Changawa siblings triumph
Ismael Changawa and his sister Shufaa celebrate with their trophies after winning the men’s and women’s singles final matches respectively at the Kenya Open Tennis Championships at the Nairobi Club on June 21, 2014. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO
What you need to know:
- Although Changawa turned 18 on Thursday, he reserved the celebrations for Saturday, effectively using his cracking left hand serves to tear Mugabe apart in straight sets of 6-4, 6-4. Allan Copper was the last Kenyan to win the men’s title in 2009.
- Shufaa seized her second title in women’s category when she subjected the sluggish but tactical Caroline Oduor to end-to-end displays before dispatching her 6-1, 6-3.
Ismael Changawa and his elder sister Shufaa Saturday became the first set of players from one family to win both men and women’s titles at the Kenya Open tennis championship.
The Changawa siblings who grew up in Ganjoni, Mombasa, mesmerised the crowds with their stylish display in their respective finals played at the Nairobi Club Saturday.
Junior prodigy Ismael became the first Kenyan to win the men’s singles title in five years when halted defending champion Duncan Mugabe’s charge to his fourth title.
Although Changawa turned 18 on Thursday, he reserved the celebrations for Saturday, effectively using his cracking left hand serves to tear Mugabe apart in straight sets of 6-4, 6-4. Allan Copper was the last Kenyan to win the men’s title in 2009. Francis Rogoi reached the final in 2010, losing to Mugabe, who also won the 2011 crown.
Shufaa seized her second title in women’s category when she subjected the sluggish but tactical Caroline Oduor to end-to-end displays before dispatching her 6-1, 6-3. It was sweet revenge for the 2011 champion Changawa who had lost to Oduor in last year’s final.
“It feels great to bring honour to Kenya as foreigners have dominated in the last four years,” the left-handed Ismael, who dedicated his victory to his family, among them his mentor and brother Faizal Khan and coach Lawrence Karanja, said.
“They told me to just go to the courts and enjoy my game and I did exactly that.”
Ismael said he knew Mugabe had a big serve but he stayed put at the backline to break them before going for the kill. “I felt happy when I broke his serves since I knew he also had a good backhand and spins.”
Shufaa attributed her victory to intensive training in Mombasa.
“Unlike last year, I had to work out aggressively and I had to also mix up my systems to tame her tactics,” said Shufaa.
“I improved my serve from last year where I had so many double faults. It’s unbelievable,” added Shufaa who went home Sh80,000 richer.
Ishamel was awarded Sh90,000 for winning the men’s title.
