Kenya’s top seed Sneha Kotecha kept her title bid on track at Nairobi Club on Tuesday, 20 November 2018, after sweeping past France’s Oceane Mallevre to reach the third round of the ITF East Africa Junior Circuit 18 and Under tournament.
Kotecha won 6-1, 6-0 and will next face Belgium’s Chyara Onia Seke for a place in the quarter-finals. Seke advanced after upsetting 13th seed Suzaine Prestorius of South Africa 6-3, 7-6 (6).
After the match, Kotecha said: “I used my good serves to dispatch the equally good Mallevre,” adding that she felt no pressure as the top seed because she had been playing well. She also pointed to her recent form, having reached the final in one of the similar events in January before winning two ITF East Africa Junior Circuit 18 and Under titles in July.
Morning rain interrupted much of the second-round schedule, leaving several matches unfinished. Among those affected was second seed Aisha Niyonkuru of Burundi, who was due to meet South Africa’s Rebecca Brody for a place in the third round. Brody had earlier beaten Zimbabwe’s C. Zhuwakini 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.
In other girls’ matches, South Africa’s third seed Van Der Merwe was set to play Zimbabwe’s Nicole Matukutire, who had beaten Kenya’s Stephanie Musasia 6-2, 6-2. Fourth seed Tea Lukic of Germany was scheduled to meet Burundi’s C. Mutuyimana after Mutuyimana edged Kenya’s Gabriella Miheso. Britain’s 12th seed Ananya Vartak also moved on after defeating Rwanda’s Clenia Niyonshima 6-1, 6-1.
In the boys’ draw, Kenya’s 13th seed Derrick Ominde beat India’s Rishi Ayyapan 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 to reach the third round. Italy’s Alexander Gammariello also advanced after stunning ninth seed Arya Roghani of Iran 6-3, 6-3.
Second seed Sina Moghimi of Iran was set to face Belgium’s A. Stockbroekx in the third round after Stockbroekx dismissed Kenya’s Brian Madegwa 6-0, 6-0. Moghimi had received a bye into the round.
