TENNIS: Kenyans out of ITF singles title campaign

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

Kenyans crashed out of the of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Under-18 Junior Tennis Circuit yesterday at Nairobi Club.  

Albert Njogu and Derrick Ominde, who were the only home players remaining in the boys singles, were eliminated after falling to the guests.

Kenya’s top seeded player Njogu, who is ranked fourth in the tournament, fell to Mozambique’s Bruno Nhavene in a scintillating three-set match.

After going down 6-1 in the first set, a determined Njogu put up a spirited fight to take the second set 6-7(2) to level scores 1-1 and set stage for a decisive third set.

With one foot in the semi-finals, both boys engaged in a neck-and-neck battle in the third set but it was the eighth ranked Mozambican who carried the day with a 7-6 (2) score to dump the Kenyan out of the competition.

Njogu, pairing with Ryan Randiek, will be hoping to shine in boys’ doubles challenge.

Netherlands Thijmen Loof was too good for homeboy Ominde easing to straight sets victory.

Ominde, who had staged a brilliant performance against Taiwan’s Chia-Chieh Lin in the round of 16, was outdone by his Dutch opponent from the onset.

Without a struggle, Loof took the first set 6-1 the completed the job 6-3 to book his place in the last four.

Thijmen continued with his winning ways securing a semi-final slot with a 6-2, 6-1 win against Taiwan’s Cheng Tang while France’s Thibault Verdier sealed his place in the last four with a 6-4, 7-6 (7) victory over Poland’s Jasza Szajrych.

In girls’ contest, tournament top seed Aisha Niyonkuru of Burundi booked her place in the semi-finals following her 6-3, 6-3 win over France’s Helena Mohamed.

Niyonkuru, who is based in Nairobi alongside boys’ top seed Abdul Shakur Kabura, are favourites to win the singles titles.  

Cameroon’s Anna Lorie Lemongo Toumbou, who beat Sara El Ghazouly of Egypt 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, as well as Joelle Lily Sophie Steur of German, also reached the last four.

In doubles, Kenya’s Angela Okutoyi, who was eliminated in the first round of the tourney, will be seeking to redeem herself with victory in today’s final.