Seed six Henry Muyanja received a scare by little-known Charles Okurut in the first round of the Rak-Tie break tennis tournament in the Main draw at Lugogo tennis center.
Muyanja, who has a flamboyant style on court had to dig deep to rescue himself with a hard fought 8-6,6-8, 7-1 win over Okurut as he breezed through into the next round of the knockout tournament.
All the other seeded players advanced to round two with ease top seed Duncan Mugabe had no resistance from Ronald Opio dumping him out 7-1, 7-3 while David Oringa, who is the tournament’s seed two was a spectator with his opponent Frank Kyagulanyi, opting not show up for his encounter at the Jamal Ramji center court.
Rwanda’s Jean Claude Gasigwa, seed three had the funniest encounter on center making his opponent Dennis Kaboyo, enjoy while laughing and joking on the court and cruising easily 7-1, 7-1.
“I wanted him to enjoy the game that is why I just kept playing every shot easily,” Gasigwa said. “It’s an easy game and I want the people in the stands to enjoy the game.”
After his encounter he thanked the fans for watching his game and asked them to come again. The Kenya Open champion Ismail Changawa seed four beat Charles Kavuma 7-2, 7-3.
The tournament is an initiative of Rak Ceramics and Sanitaryware Limited, the players play the best of 3 tie-breaks to decide the winner. The winner of both the men’s and ladies tournament will walk away with $1,000(Sh2.5m) the ladies will start their action on Wednesday.
Rak Tie Break Tennis tournament
Results
Rd 1
D.Mugabe bt R.Opio
7-1,7-3
JC.Gasigwa bt D.Kaboyo
7-1,7-1
D.Oringa W/O F.Kyagulanyi
I.Changawa bt C.Kavuma
7-2,7-3
H.Muyanja bt C.Okurut
8-6,6-8,7-1
S.Ayella bt A.Menya
7-4,7-3
Select Boys U-18
Rd 1 and Rd 2
B.Aguma bt J.Aguma
7-0,7-0
Rd 2
B.Aguma W/O Frank Nyag
Rd 1
D.Opio bt W.Ejok
7-5,8-6
Rd 2
D.Opio bt T.Kazibwe
7-5,7-3