Dawda beats Russia’s Khrisanova

By Oscar Pilipili

Home players put up strong display as Kenya International Junior Tennis Championships entered its third day at Parklands Sports Club.

Sixth seed Nikita Dawda was among Kenyans who prevailed in the event after she qualified for the quarter-finals, defeating Nina Khrisanova of Russia 6-4, 6-2 in a second round match of the Championships, which is the third and final leg of the East Africa Circuit-Kenya.

Nikita now face Egyptian top seed and winner of Nairobi Club leg El Kamash Mai in the quarters.

Kamash ran over Anke Poncelet of Belgium 6-0, 6-4 in their opening match to reach the round of eight yesterday.

Kenya fourth seed Gibrael Teja cruised through to the third round of the event following his 7-5, 6-1 win over Julian Turosienski of Poland at Parklands Sports Club.

Teja now faces winner of first two legs Artur Completo in a pre-quarter final match of the Championship which is organised by International Tennis Federation and run by Kenya Lawn Tennis Association.

Winning ways

Despite winning both at Mombasa Sports Club and the Nairobi Club, Completo is ranked 13th in ongoing tournament which is nine places below his round three opponent Teja.

South African top seed Dylan Comerford continued his winning ways beating Egyptian El Din Gamal with straight sets of 6-2, 6-2 to reach the third round of Kenya International.

Slovenian 15th seed Blaz Bizjak beat Gabriel Nardelli 6-2, 6-2 to set a third round date with Comerford today.

Romain Barbosa of Belgium who is seeded 10th in the Championship beat Lucas Poelman of Great Britain 7-5, 6-1 in a hotly contested duel especially in the first set to advance.

Lower tier

From the lower tier of the draw, Rocco Dauria upset fifth seed Marthinus Visser 6-4, 6-1 while third seed Dion Rocco of South Africa lived up to his billing beating Chessari Ricardo of Italy 6-4, 6-1.

Kenya fielded four boys in the main draw but Derrick Onyancha who is ranked 1027 globally and Ishmael Changawa and Ibrahim Kibet lost on round one of the competition.

Kibet went down 2-6, 2-6 against I Ndayisenga of Burundi, Changawa lost 4-6, 2-6 against Romanian Mihaescu Eduard while Onyancha was defeated by Nardelli 6-7 (7), 6-4, 6-4 in one of the longest matches of the tournament on the opening day.

In the girls’ category, Egyptian top seed and the Nairobi leg champion Mai El Kamash got a bye to second round where she plays Anke Poncelet of Belgium.

Poncelet started her campaign on right footing after she defeated Kenyan Ivy Rahedi 6-1, 7-5 in a round one match to sail through to pre-quarter-finals.

The tournament sponsored by New Kenya Co-Operative Creameries is an ITF ranking tournament and has attracted players from all the continents. Action continues today.