Record 165 seek Kenya Open honours

This year’s edition of the Britam Kenya Open Tennis Championship serves off on Saturday at the Nairobi Club with a record 165 players from around the world set to take part.

Ninety men and 75 women are set to battle for this year’s titles with a total prize fund of Sh1.35million up for grabs. Players will compete in men and ladies singles, ladies and men’s doubles, mixed doubles, handicap and wheelchair.

Qualifying matches take centre stage on Saturday with 50 men and 21 women seeking eight and four slots respectively in the main draw set to start on Monday.

Hosts Kenya make up the bulk of this number with Belgium and Japan also represented in the curtain raiser to the main event come Monday.

Kenya’s charge will be led by the Changawa siblings Ismael and Shufaa, who will be defending their men and Ladies singles titles respectively. The duo have expressed confidence of retaining their titles as they seek to extend their dominance.

Ismail, who is seeking a fourth crown, is however wary of former champion Duncan Mugabe of Uganda.

“This is one event I look forward to every year and it promises to be competitive. The number of entries shows you how competitive it will be and I look forward to go all the way,” Ismail said.

Last year, the US-based player won the title without stepping on court after Mugabe – the finalist - was disqualified at the last minute for engaging in a physical brawl with Kenya’s Kevin Cheruiyot during men’s doubles semi-finals.

He was later fined Sh10,000 by the organisers for bad conduct. Mugabe arrives in the country Sunday as he seeks to win his third title.

“He (Mugabe) is a world class player and I hope there will be no drama this year,” he added.

Shufaa on the other hand beat Stephanie Mbaya in the ladies final.

ONYA IN THE COUNTRY

The Congolese team comprising last year’s Ladies Doubles champion and Singles semi-finalist, Nancy Onya arrived on Thursday night.

Onya, the sole lady on the contingent, is joined by Christian Okota Diamba, Arnold Ikondo and Nkanku Mukeba, who are visiting Kenya for the first time as well as Christian Saidi and Sarma DaSilva Nkulufa both members of the team that was in Nairobi in November last year for the Confederation of Africa Cup of Nations.

Saidi also competed in the Britam Kenya Open in 2015. Zambia’s Edgar Kazembe, also a previous men’s singles title holder, is also expected in the country on Saturday.

Rwanda will be represented by Olivier Havugimana and Ernest Habiyambere, a former junior sensation with the ITF East African Training Centre.

Home-based players Kevin Cheruiyot, Ibrahim Kibet Yego as well as fast rising junior Sheil Kotecha will also be eyeing the top prize.