Mugabe storms Kenya Open semi-finals
Mar 10, 2011
UGANDAN Duncan Mugabe broke the hearts of a partisan home crowd in the Kenya Open, inflicting a crushing defeat on homeboy Gilbert Kibet within an hour to book a slot in the semi-final in Nairobi yesterday.
By DOUGLAS MAZUNE
D. Mugabe bt G. Kibet 6-3 6-4
J. Gasigwa bt Y. Rawal 6-3 6-2
F. Rogoi bt I. Shangawa 7-6 6-4 7-5
A. Cooper bt D. Ochieng 7-6 6-3
Women:
S. Shangawa bt R. Musoke 6-2 6-2
UGANDAN Duncan Mugabe broke the hearts of a partisan home crowd in the Kenya Open, inflicting a crushing defeat on homeboy Gilbert Kibet within an hour to book a slot in the semi-final in Nairobi yesterday.
Top seed Mugabe, the only Ugandan to have won the competition in over 30 years, overwhelmed Kibet (No.5) with hard ground shots as he powered his way to a 6-3 6-4 victory.
The 20-year-old lanky Ugandan will be up against Burundian Jean Claude Gasigwa in the semi-final tomorrow.
“My opponent never had a good game and my ground strokes were good. I was more composed and I really hit good shots. He had the home support but they also acknowledged my shots. A good shot is a good shot,†Mugabe commented in a telephone interview with New Vision.
Gasigwa, whose career spans over 15 years ejected Kenyan Yash Rawal 6-3 6-2 to set up clash with the Ugandan youngster.
Teenage star Ishamael Shangawa,15, put up a formidable challenge before succumbing to Francis Rogoi’s tenacity 7-6, 4-6 7-5 in the most exciting quarterfinal contest that earned the youngster respect.
Rogoi’s hard-earned victory over the resilient youngster culminated into a repeat of last year’s semi-final with compatriot Allan Cooper.
D. Mugabe bt G. Kibet 6-3 6-4
J. Gasigwa bt Y. Rawal 6-3 6-2
F. Rogoi bt I. Shangawa 7-6 6-4 7-5
A. Cooper bt D. Ochieng 7-6 6-3
Women:
S. Shangawa bt R. Musoke 6-2 6-2
UGANDAN Duncan Mugabe broke the hearts of a partisan home crowd in the Kenya Open, inflicting a crushing defeat on homeboy Gilbert Kibet within an hour to book a slot in the semi-final in Nairobi yesterday.
Top seed Mugabe, the only Ugandan to have won the competition in over 30 years, overwhelmed Kibet (No.5) with hard ground shots as he powered his way to a 6-3 6-4 victory.
The 20-year-old lanky Ugandan will be up against Burundian Jean Claude Gasigwa in the semi-final tomorrow.
“My opponent never had a good game and my ground strokes were good. I was more composed and I really hit good shots. He had the home support but they also acknowledged my shots. A good shot is a good shot,†Mugabe commented in a telephone interview with New Vision.
Gasigwa, whose career spans over 15 years ejected Kenyan Yash Rawal 6-3 6-2 to set up clash with the Ugandan youngster.
Teenage star Ishamael Shangawa,15, put up a formidable challenge before succumbing to Francis Rogoi’s tenacity 7-6, 4-6 7-5 in the most exciting quarterfinal contest that earned the youngster respect.
Rogoi’s hard-earned victory over the resilient youngster culminated into a repeat of last year’s semi-final with compatriot Allan Cooper.