Kenya Open tennis championships set for thrilling comeback after four year hiatus

Kenya is gearing up to host the Kenya Open Tennis championships set to make a grand comeback at the Nairobi Club from August 7-13.

The tournament was not held in 2019 due to a lack of a financier and was also shelved between 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2022, it was dropped due to a crowded calendar.

According to Tennis Kenya (TK) executive officer Nancy Nduku, they were pleased to have the tournament back on the calendar as she also noted that they expected a big turnout of players for the prestigious event.

"We are expecting a good turnout considering this is our flagship tournament which brings together the best players not only locally but from the continent and even Europe,” Nduku noted.

What will make the tournament even more mind blowing is the presence of top players from Zimbabwe, Egypt, Algeria, South Africa, and European nations who are expected to grace the week-long event.

The event will also feature five categories; singles (men and women), doubles, mixed doubles, wheelchair singles (men and women) and doubles alongside men and women seniors (50 plus years) doubles and mixed doubles in the same category.

The total prize money for the tournament according to Nduku would be Sh700,000 with the entry fee set at Sh2000.

Former Wimbledon doubles junior champion Angela Okutoyi and Ibrahim Kibet won the 2018 edition with Okutoyi making history as the youngest-ever Kenya Open winner.

Okutoyi upset three-time Kenya Open champion Shufaa Changawa winning 6-1,7-6 while Kibet defeated Ismael Changawa 7-5, 6-4 to win the men's title.

Nduku noted they would release the tournament seedings and draw next week once they have received all entries.

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At the same time, Nduku revealed that Tennis Kenya has joined other countries in bidding to host the Africa Under 12 championships scheduled for November 2023.

According to Nduku, they are oozing with confidence after successfully hosting the Billie Jean King Cup tournament in June.

“We want to bid for the tournament and I believe we have what it takes after the success we had at the Billie Jean King Cup. The courts at the Nairobi Club have been upgraded and I believe they are good enough to host the U-12 tournament," noted Nduku.

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They are also bolstered by the Kenya Under 12 girls’ impressive performance as the youngsters finished second at the regional qualifiers in Uganda over the weekend to qualify for the continental event.

Team Kenya secured 3-0 wins over Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda but lost 2-1 to Burundi to bag the silver medal. Tanzania took the bronze medal.

The girls' team consisted of Bathseba Ogamba, Jenerica Rogoi and Liya Gikunda while the boys' side had Ayan Quadros, Jyan Patel and Inditiasi Olembo.

The boys' team finished third behind winners Uganda and Burundi.

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