Changawa set for Wimbledon Junior Tennis Championship
PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU Ismael Changawa Mzai in action against Edgar Kazembe in men's singles semi-final match at the Real Insurance Kenya Open Tennis Championships at the Nairobi Club on June 20, 2014. Changawa won 6-4, 6-1.
What you need to know:
- Changawa, who is currently ranked 70 in world junior rankings by the ITF, said he has been invited by virtue of her position in the world.
- Changawa claimed his first local major when he won this year’s Kenya Open final, beating defending champion Duncan Mugabe in straight sets of 6-4, 6-4 at the Nairobi Club.
The new men’s Kenya Open Tennis champion Ismael Changawa will take part in this year’s Wimbledon Junior Tennis Championships due June 23 to July 6.
Changawa, who is currently ranked 70 in world junior rankings by the ITF, said he has been invited by virtue of his position in the world.
(READ: Changawa siblings triumph)
Before the Grand Slam, Changawa will take part in Grade One Junior Championships that is a warm up event ahead of the Wimbledon.
He is the first Kenyan junior to take part in junior grand slam event since Christian Vitulli, who participated in the Australia Open, Wimbledon and US Open eight years ago.
CELEBRATED BIRTHDAY
Changawa, who celebrated his 18th birthday on Thursday, claimed his first local major when he won this year’s Kenya Open final, beating defending champion Duncan Mugabe in straight sets of 6-4, 6-4 at the Nairobi Club.
Changawa, who is based at the ITF High Performance Centre in Morocco, three weeks ago, won Kenya its first international medal since the 1987 All Africa Games. Changawa joined the Moroccan centre at the end of last year from another similar facility in South Africa.
He won bronze in boys’ singles before combining with girls’ top junior Stephanie Mbaya to win silver in mixed doubles during the Africa Youth Games in Botswana three weeks ago.
“It shows that I have improved and I want to thank my big brothers inspiring me to this moment,” said Changawa.
Changawa’s brothers Faizal Khan and Juma Changawa are known figures in Kenyan tennis circles.
