Kenyan top seeds fall in Karen Open
From Left: Karen Open Tennis Championships men's winner Burundi's Guy Orly Iradukunda, Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich and the ladies champion Madagascar's Narindra Ranaivo at the Karen Country Club, Nairobi on December 16, 2018. PHOTO | KANYIRI WAHITO |
What you need to know:
- “After the holidays break, I will resume with Futures tournaments in January.”
- Changawa said a shoulder injury he sustained during the semi-finals where he outclassed fellow Kenyan Sheil Kotecha 6-3, 6-0 ruined his chances of retaining the title.
Guy Iradukunda from Burundi and Madagascar's Narindra Ranaivo are the new Karen Open Tennis Championships men's and women’s champions.
Iradukunda easily upset top-seeded defending champion, Kenya’s Ismael Changawa, in straight sets of 6-1, 6-2 in Sunday’s final that saw Changawa call for a medical time-out in the second set to treat his left shoulder.
Ranaivo stunned top-seeded Sneha Kotecha from Kenya in split sets of 6-4, 3-6 and 7-5 to win the women’s title in a thrilling final that saw Kotecha blow away three match points in the last set to lose.
Iradukunda rued Changawa’s injury saying it impeded a good showdown even though he came to Nairobi well prepared for the battle.
“I didn’t know what to expect since we had not met for two years. I didn’t know what Changawa was thinking but I knew he will put in his best and unfortunately an injury crept in,” said the 21-year-old Iradukunda, who has just completed his college in the Florida, USA where he majored on Sociology.
“After the holidays break, I will resume with Futures tournaments in January.”
Changawa said a shoulder injury he sustained during the semi-finals where he outclassed fellow Kenyan Sheil Kotecha 6-3, 6-0 ruined his chances of retaining the title.
