By Oscar Pilipili
Sakina Nshimirimana defeated Ohmar Fernandez 6-3, 6-2 to qualify for the final and keep alive her dream of winning the Sadili Masters Challenge.
Nshimirimani, of Burundi, told FeverPitch before the match she was determined to win the Challenge and predicted that she would meet her sister, Asisa Butoyi, in the final.
Sakina Nshimirimana during a singles quarter-final match of the Sadili Masters Challenge on Staurday. [PHOTO: PIUS CHERUIYOT]
Butoyi has qualified for the semi-finals and will meet the winner between Terry Odera and Maria Godson."I lost in the first Masters Challenge to my sister (Butoyi) but I won’t lose this one," she said at Sadili Oval Sports Centre.
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Nshimirimana has continued to dominate the local scene with her hard-hitting forehand and re-styled service, under careful coaching of Liz Odera.
Terry defeated Maria Godson 6-0, 6-1 in a singles quarter-final clash to set a date with Asisa.
In the men’s singles, Francis Rogoi beat Amadi Kagoma 7-6, 6-2 to qualify for the semi-finals where he plays Alvin Okon.
The second semi-final will feature home player Joab Odera and Jonas Jacobs of Tanzania.
The talented Jacobs won the first Challenge at the same venue last month and is a top favourite for the Sh100,000 prize money.
One upset was recorded in the women’s doubles after Helen Spyropoulos (Greece) and Ohmar (South African) defeated top seeds Nshimirimana (Burundi) and Godson (Tanzania) 6-2, 6-1 to qualify for the final.
Spyropolous/Ohmar will meet winners between Odera/Butoyi and Jacky Hinga/Emma Sawa.
This will be the last local tournament for juniors before they head for the International Tennis Federation Junior Circuit that begins in Burundi on November 24.
Uganda will host the second leg with the third and final round being played in Nairobi in December.
This senior tennis event that includes singles, doubles, mixed doubles and a veterans’ (over 35) doubles ends today.
It came at a time when there was limited tennis tournaments locally, and is seen as an opportunity for locals.
Sponsored by Tennis Africa and Friends of Sadili Oval, it forms part of Kenya Lawn Tennis Association’s new partnership with Sadili Oval, which began last March.
Meanwhile, a tournament to feature seven-year-olds will take place at Parklands Sports Club on November 15, an organizer, Rosemary Owino, has annonunced.