Kenya face Tanzania in tennis final

It will be an East African affair in the finals of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) BNP Paribas Wheelchair World Team Cup African Qualifiers as hosts Kenya and neighbours Tanzania clash for top honours.

At stake are tickets for winners in both the men and women’s categories to this year’s global event set for 1 to 7 May in Sardinia, Italy.

The Kenyan men and women sealed their finals slots after beating Cameroon playersin their respective group matches. Tanzania beat Ghanaian women and Nigerian men to book a date with Kenya.

The Kenyan trio of Collins Omondi, Peter Munuve and Rajab Athman fought to a 2-1 victory over unrelenting Cameroon duo of Paul Bessegui and Jemmene Christian. Omondi made easy work of Bessegui downing him 6-1,6-0 to give Kenya their first singles victory.

However, Cameroon’s Christian was not ready to let the homeboys have it the easy way. He turned tables beating Munuve 4-6, 7-5, 3-6 in the second singles match to draw level forcing the winner to be decided by the doubles match.

Munuve then teamed up with Athman against Bessegui and Christian fighting to a 6-4, 6-4 win and with it secured their finals berth.

Tanzanian men ensured that they made it to their second straight semi-finals with a 3-0 win over Nigeria. Juma Hamisi was the first on court for the East Africans and he did not disappoint beating Ishola Jelili 6-3, 7-6(3).

Navatus Temba was no match for Akanbi Kazeen dismissing him 6-1, 6-3 before the duo partnered for a 6-0, 7-6(4) doubles conquest over Jelili and Kazeen.