Rain halts Kenya Open as seeds draw markers

Rain saw the second day of the Britam Kenya Open Championships called off on Tuesday with the courts rendered unplayable by the showers that hit Nairobi for most part of the morning.

“It was unlucky that the heavens opened up and forced us to postpone today’s (Tuesday) games because we checked the forecast and the weather looked okay,” Tennis Kenya vice-chairman, Francis Mutuku offered.

“The good thing is we had predicted such an eventuality and the length of the tournament also worked in our favour so we were able to reschedule the matches for tomorrow (Wednesday),” he added.

The top seeded siblings, Ismael and Shufaa Changawa had been expected to take to the court for their opening round matches with both seeking a hat-trick of men and women singles titles.

Angela Okutoyi, the top seed in the girl’s under-18, blanked unseeded Viviane Chepkoech in the first round on Monday in straight sets of 6-0 6-0 to set up an exhilarating second round clash with third seed Sneha Kotecha.

Mutuku, the tournament director, was full of praise for the 12-year old prodigy who had been stretched by second seed Judy Nkatha during last weekend’s Britam Junior Open before winning 4-6, 6-4, 10-7 to clinch the Girls 18 and Under title despite being the youngest player in the category.

“In Angela’s case, the organizers decided to exempt her because she showed tremendous potential in the U-18 category and we felt like she wasn’t getting enough competition in her age group so we let her participate in the senior tournament,” he explained.

“I’m happy Tennis Kenya gave me the opportunity to play at the senior level and I hope I can perform to expectation. I’ve met with Sneha a few times in the past and I consider her one of my toughest challengers,” Okutoyi added.

Second seed Stephanie Mbaya is hopeful she will dethrone the Mombasa-based Shufaa and stop the rising star Sneha for a maiden crown.

Mbaya, last year’s Junior Open Champion, has won all Tennis Kenya tournaments she has entered in 2016 and comes to this competition optimistic of going the full distance.

“The rain is a bit disruptive but I hope it will end well. I’ve put a lot of effort and playing a lot of practice matches and I’ve won a few tournaments on the way so I think I’m in pretty good shape right now,” she asserted.

“After the tournament, I’m planning to go to university in the United States where I’ve been awarded a tennis scholarship by Southern University and A&M College and I’m looking forward to the chance of playing in a different environment.”

On Wednesday, top seed Shufaa will face off against Juliette Cherono while her brother Ismail Mzai competes against unseeded Amon Nzuki in the first round.

Ugandan third seed, David Oringa, will also battle it out against unseeded Kenyan Randall Randiek while Brian Yaga will be looking to cause a major upset when he takes on fifth seed, Ibrahim Kibet.

Report by Eric Kagunda