Shufaa, Ismail bite the dust in Kenya Open
Sheil Kotecha returns a shot to Ismail Changawa during their Britam Kenya Open Championships men's singles semi-finals at Nairobi Club on June 30, 2017. Kotecha won 6-1,7-7, (3), 6-4. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU |
What you need to know:
- On a day full of drama at the Nairobi Club, the siblings, who were looking to reach the finals, were shocked by underdogs.
- Kenya's top seed Ismail Changawa went down 1-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 to compatriot Sheila Kotecha in an epic semi that lasted close to three hours.
- In the women's semis, Shufaa crashed out after she lost 6-1, 6-3 to Argentina's Natali Coronel.
New winners will be crowned as the Britam Kenya Open Tennis competition ends Saturday after champions Ismail and Shufaa Changawa were defeated in their respective men's and women's semi-finals on Friday.
On a day full of drama at the Nairobi Club, the siblings, who were looking to reach the finals, were shocked by underdogs.
Kenya's top seed Ismail Changawa went down 1-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 to compatriot Sheila Kotecha in an epic semi that lasted close to three hours.
Ismail Changawa returns a shot to Sheil Kotecha during their Britam Kenya Open Championships men's singles semi-finals match at Nairobi Club on June 30, 2017.
Kotecha will take on three -time champion Duncan Mugabe of Uganda in today's final. Mugabe beat Kenya's Ibrahim Kibet Yego 7-5, 7-6(2).
"It is such a good feeling to beat a player of his calibre. I kept my cool and put pressure on his weak side," an elated Kotecha said.
Uganda's Duncan Mugabe in action against Kenya's Ibrahim Yego in their men's singles semi-finals match during the Britam Kenya Open Championships at Nairobi Club on June 30, 2017. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
WOBBLY SHUFAA OUT
In the women's semis, Shufaa crashed out after she lost 6-1, 6-3 to Argentina's Natali Coronel.
Coronel, who is seeded fourth in the tourney, will come up against third seed Celestine Avomo Ella of Gabon.
Ella beat home player Sneha Kotecha 7-5, 6-1 to reach her first Kenya Open final. It will be the first time in over close to two decades that a Kenyan will not be in the women's final. It was a disjointed performance from the Kenyan who has impressed prior to this stage.
Shufaa attributed her loss to poor reception and lapses in concentration during the match.
"It was one of my terrible displays and it is a bitter pill to swallow. I will work on the mistakes and promise to come back stronger in the next edition," Shufaa said.
Kenya's Shufaa Changawa returns a shot to Natali Coronel of Argentina in their ladies singles semi-finals match during the Britam Kenya Open Championships at Nairobi Club on June 30, 2017. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
The Argentine put the pressure on the home player with some big serves which Shufaa was unable to deal with constantly serving to the net.
Coronel, who is based in Uganda, saw out the first set with ease as Shufaa won only one match.
The Kenyan returned stronger in the second set taking the opening three games. However, she failed to hold her nerve allowing Coronel back into the match.
Unforced errors allowed Coronel to level at three-all before she went on to win and book her slot in the final.
"It was great match and I enjoyed every bit of it. I was able to put pressure on her and it worked to my advantage," the Argentine said in her post -match comments.
