Visiting nations crush opening ties at BJK Cup

The first day of the Billie Jean King Cup Africa Group III matches concluded yesterday at Olympia’s Central Tennis Courts in Windhoek.The tournament featured one-sided ties, with Morocco, Nigeria, Botswana, Madagascar, Zimbabwe and Kenya winning all their matches.In the second singles rubber between Morocco and hosts Namibia, Morocco’s Malak El Allami beat Namibia’s debutant Mari van Schalkwyk 6-1, 6-1.The top-seed singles saw Namibia’s Kerstin Gressmann take another tough 6-2, 6-3 loss to Yasmine Kabbaj.Morocco sealed the tie in the doubles, where the pairing of Malak El Allami and Diae El Jardi defeated Namibia’s Joanivia Bezuidenhout and Kerstin Gressmann 6-2, 6-0.The Nigeria versus Uganda tie saw Nigeria awarded a walkover for all matches after Ugandan players faced transportation difficulties and could not arrive at the venue.In the Botswana versus Ghana tie, Botswana’s Chelsea Chakanyuka defeated Sisu-Makena Tomegah 6-2, 7-5, while her teammate Ekua Youri overcame Precious Okoh 6-2, 6-1.In the doubles, Botswana’s Youri partnered with Tshegofatso Tsiang to beat Ghana’s Tomegah and Linda Hendozi 6-2, 6-2.Madagascar’s tie against Burundi saw Ange Ishimwe fall 6-1, 6-1 to Iariniaina Tsantaniony, before Madagascar’s Miotisoa Andrianantenaina posted a 6-1, 6-1 win over Safi Hategekimana.In the doubles, Andrianantenaina and Randy Rakotoarilala defeated Burundi’s Hategekimana and Yusra Irakoze 6-1, 6-2.In the Zimbabwe versus Algeria tie, Zimbabwe’s Tadiwanashe Mauchi beat Rawane Mebarki 6-3, 6-1 before Sasha Chimedza edged Bochra Mebarki 7-6(3), 6-4.In the doubles, Zimbabwe’s Mauchi and Tsitsi Mahere secured a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Melissa Kerfah and Rawane Mebarki.Kenya’s tie against Tunisia saw Melissa Mwakha breeze past Lina Soussi 6-1, 6-0, followed by Angella Okutoyi’s 6-2, 6-4 win over Mouna Bouzgarrou.Kenya’s dominance continued in the doubles, where Okutoyi and Cynthia Wanjala beat Bouzgarrou and Ranim Rassil.Speaking at the opening ceremony, Namibia Tennis Association (NTA) president Samson Kaulinge praised the country’s achievement in hosting an event of this magnitude, considered the World Cup of women’s tennis.“It symbolises the growth of tennis in Namibia and underscores our ability to host world-class events,” he said.– mariud@nsh.com.na

Visiting nations crush opening ties at BJK Cup

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Visiting nations crush opening ties at BJK Cup

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