Kenya clean out Uganda in pre-Davis Cup clash

Kenya on Sunday completed an impressive 4-1 wiin over Uganda on the final day of their pre-Davis Cup Tennis Championship match-up at the Nairobi Club.

Carrying a 2-0 lead from Saturday, Kenya completed an impressive outing by winnig one single match, losing as well claiming the double encounter.

The day started with the doubles match pitting Kenya’s Ryan Randiek and Ismail Changawa against Uganda’s Simon Ayela and Boris Aguma.

It was largely comfortable outing for the home players as they eased to a 6-1, 6-3 win.

Next on court was Albert Njogu against David Oringa. Njoguo won 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-3.

He served out the first set in just 24 minutes after a double break and a shaky Oringa opening.

The Kenyan fought off two break points in his opening service in the second set with pinpoint serves, while Oringa had a tussle before holding in the third game.

The Ugandan worked his way back into the match as both players traded furious forehands to stay on serve.

Oringa was to break point down in the ninth, but crucially got out of it with a second serve ace down the middle followed by a forehand winner.

In the tiebreaker, Oringa got to two set points when his forehand clipped the line before a winning smash levelled the match.

Petty Andanda was the only blot as he went down 5-7, 2-6, 4-1 to Aguma.

Kenya coach Rosemary Owino was pleased with the results but admitted there was still work to be done ahead of the main competition in June.

“These are just build-up matches but they gauge our level of fitness and the areas we need to improve on.

“I think our confidence is high and that is a good thing. We just need more polishing on our serves and we will be good to go,” Owino told Nation Sport.

Kenya will host the Davis Cup in June.

Kenyan players will play build-up matches with their neighbours every month ahead of the world event.

On Saturday, Njogu stunned the reigning Kenya Open champion Duncan Mugabe.

Njogu was brilliant as he overcame his much fancied opponent 6-3, 6-3 in the opening rubber.

The hosts kept up the momentum as the country’s number one player Ismail Changawa beat David Oringa 6-2, 6-1 in the second rubber.