Rwanda halt Uganda’s Davis Cup progression

Tayebwa lost Uganda’s first game in Congo on June 28, 2019. PHOTO: UTA MEDIA

KAMPALA. Team Uganda departed for the Davis Cup Africa Zone Group IV in Congo Brazaville with only one objective on mind, gaining promotion back to Group III, but Rwanda had other plans as they defeated Uganda 2-1 on Friday.

“The matches were brutal, it’s tough to understand these situations. Desire to win comes in and he who has more in the heart edges the match,” said Uganda’s Team Manager Alvin Bagaya.
After a promising start with 2-1 and 3-0 wins over Botswana and hosts Congo respectively, Uganda had promotion in sight with only Rwanda as the stumbling block.

The fellow East Africans proved the hungrier side with Mathieu Uweyizimana beating Uganda Frank Tayebwa 1-6,6-2,6-3. Tayebwa started like a man on a mission by taking the first set 6-1 but Uweyizimana recovered to take the second set to force a decisive one which he won.
After Tayebwa’s loss, it stood 1-0 in Rwanda’s favour and Uganda’s hopes lay in the hands of captain and poster boy David Oringa, who had taken the tournament by storm. He was up against another exceptional player in Ernest Habyambere and the crowd was served with a cracker as the Rwandan raced ahead with a 6-4 set win but Oringa fought back level it by winning the second set 6-3 to force a decider.

In the decisive set, Oringa put in a befitting fight but it was not enough as he was closed out 7-5. Tayebwa and Simony Ayella then partnered to win the consolation men’s doubles. Uganda will now stay put in Group IV as Rwanda move up to Group Three.

FRIDAY RESULTS IN CONGO

UGANDA LOST TO RWANDA 1-2
MEN’S SINGLES
*Mathieu Uweyizimana (RWA) def Frank
Tayebwa (UGA) 1-6/6-2/6-3
*Ernest Habyambere (RWA) def. David
Oringa (UGA) - 6-4/3-6/7-5
MEN’S DOUBLES
*S. Ayella/Tayebwa (UGA) bt Havugimana/
Etienne Niyigenga (RWA)- 6-4/5-7/0-6