Phoebe Masika in action during the Nairobi Open tennis tournament/HANDOUT Kenyan wheelchair tennis players Jane Ndenga and Phoebe Masika believe only international exposure can help Kenyans compete at the highest level of the sport.
The duo, who reached the final of the doubles category at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Nairobi Open last week, said the country needs a structured development pathway to elevate Kenya’s competitiveness.
“I believe we have the potential to match players from countries like Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, and Nigeria,” said Ndenga, who has been in wheelchair tennis for over a decade.
“The Nairobi Open is a good starting point, but we need to play more international tournaments to improve our rankings and performance.”
In the doubles final, Ndenga and Masika lost to Rehema Selmani of Tanzania and Awane Najwa of Mauritius, 6-4 6-1.
In the men’s doubles category, Itaken Kipelian and Henry Caleb fell in the semifinals, losing 6-2 6-0 to the Egyptian duo of Hassan Emad and Abd Salah.
Tennis Kenya President James Kenani highlighted Kenya’s growing stature as an international wheelchair tennis host.
“Not many African countries have the kind of facilities we do,” said Kenani. “It’s an honour to host such a prestigious event, which brings together top players from Africa and the world. I want to commend our players for their strong performances.”
Secretary General Wanjiru Mbugua-Karani said the federation is planning a national junior wheelchair tennis camp in December in Mombasa.
“We will involve players from Machakos School for the Disabled, Joytown, and other schools and clubs,” she said. “The goal is to upskill them and provide a strong foundation for a future in wheelchair tennis.”
The Nairobi Open attracted players from nine countries, including India, South Africa, Tanzania, DRC, Rwanda, Egypt, Mauritius and host nation Kenya.
