TENNIS: Njogu advances to semi-final

Kenya's Albert Njogu, Seed 4, during ITF East Africa 18 and Under Junior Circuit tournament 2019 at Nairobi club. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Albert Njogu yesterday overpowered perennial rival Abdoul Shakur Kabura of Burundi to reach the semi-finals of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) World Tennis Tour Junior Championships at Nairobi Club. 

Njogu is the only Kenyan left in the tournament after his compatriots fell at different stages of competition.

Two sets is all the fifth seed homeboy needed to shove tournament seed one Kabura out of his way and secure a semis date with Hungary’s Mihaly Deli. Deli beat France’s Clement Chauvin 6-0, 6-7(5), 6-4 in the quarters.

Coming up against a familiar foe and occasional doubles partner, Njogu was more confident taking charge of the game from the onset. He outclassed the Nairobi ITF Centre-based Burundian to take the first set 6-2. 

Kabura was rejuvenated in the second set engaging Njogu in a neck-and-neck chase. The two tied 2-2 before the Kenyan capitalised on his opponent’s double faults before he broke away.

Many expected the top seed Burundian to snatch the second set and take the clash into the third set but were shocked when Njogu remained solid despite dropping some games.  

Not ready to let the semis berth slip out of his hands, Njogu was unrelenting sealing his place in the last four with a 6-4 win.

After the victory, the Form Four student at Mbagathi School said he was impressed with his current form and consistency.

“I am happy with my form because it is the source of my confidence. My strategy worked well and I won against him (Kabura). He is a strong player because I have even lost him in previous tournaments. I know what to expect in the semis because it gets tougher but I’m prepared,” Njogu said. 

Poland’s Jasza Szajrych will take on Hungarian Peter Sallay in the second boys semi-finals.

Szajrych beat Ming-Chieh Chiu of Taipei 6-1, 6-2 while Sallay saw off Bruno Nhavene of Mozambique 6-4, 6-2 to book the semis date. 

Meanwhile, Kenyan girls were once again reduced to spectators after Angela Okutoyi was sent packing following her 3-6, 5-7 defeat to fourth seed Moroccan Salma Loudili.

A series of errors proved costly for Kenya’s top girl as she dropped crucial points making it easy for her opponent to dump her out of the tournament.

Okutoyi began her quest on a high winning three straight games but collapsed to let the North African girl take charge of the game.

Loudili regained her footing to take the first set 6-3 before securing a spot in the last four with a hard fought 7-5 win in the second set.