This archive report was first published on 12 August 2019.
On Tuesday, August 13, 2019, the Peponi School in Kiambu County will host a thrilling all-Kenyan battle between Judith Nkatha and Faith Nyabera in the first round of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) women's World Tour.
Both players had already reached the second round in the first leg of the tournament, which concluded on Saturday at the same venue. Indian player Mahak Jain had beaten Sada Nahimana from Burundi 6-1, 6-4 in the first leg.
The match between Nkatha and Nyabera is scheduled to start at 10am.
Other Kenyan players in the championship include Angela Okutoyi, who reached the second round in the first leg, Roselida Asumwa, Alicia Owegi, and Cynthia Wanjala, who will play first-round matches from Wednesday.
Okutoyi, the Kenya Open champion, will face off against sixth-seeded Sofia Dmitrieva from Russia, while Asumwa, 15, will take on Diana Maria Mihail from Romania. Owegi will face Sariaka Radilofe from France, and Wanjala will face Brazilian Galvoa Borges.
On Monday, Asumwa had outclassed 57-year-old Mary Wachira 6-1, 6-2 to advance to the main draw. Asumwa said she had been nervous going into the match against her vastly-experienced opponent.
“Wachira is a good player who has mastered her tactics well. She consistently sent long and strong shots but I eventually caught up with her to win,” said Asumwa.
Wachira said the age difference between her and Asumwa did not mean much to her going into the match.
Owegi had advanced to the main draw when she bundled out Gowda Vibhasree from India 6-1, 6-0. “The match was much better than last week where I lost in the qualifiers,” said Owegi.
Wanjala had silenced compatriot Shania Kaur Gadha 6-2, 6-0 to storm the main draw. “I came here to win, no matter who I’m playing, I will succeed,” said Wanjala.
Top-seeded Mahak Jain will face Anfisa Danilchenko from Russia in the first round, while second-seeded Tiffany will face on-form Nahimana in the first round.
Asumwa, Owegi, and Wanjala will put their best foot forward in Tuesday’s main draw with extra motivation, as they aim to seal the remaining slot in the national women’s tennis team that will compete in the African Games in Morocco.
The national women’s team already has three outstanding players in Angela Okutoyi, Judith Moraa, and Faith Nyabera, who have gained tremendous experience and ITF and World Tennis Federation ranking points.
“Based on today’s matches, we already have a rough idea of which player will join the team,” Kenya’s tennis coach Peter Wachira said on Monday after the conclusion of the qualifier matches of the main draw.
