Beach Tennis continues its global growth: Kenya to host maiden event

History beckons for Kenya as it prepares to become the latest nation to host an ITF Beach Tennis World Tour event, with two BT10 tournaments set to take place in Malindi in March.

Kenya has benefited from the ITF Beach Tennis Global Development Programme, which provides nations with a framework for developing Beach Tennis and supplies SANDEVER Superkits to support the delivery of events.

The two events, dubbed Ocean 1 and Ocean 2, will be staged at Buntwani Waterfront Park on consecutive days, on 18 and 19 March. Wanjiru Mbugua-Karani, Secretary-General of Tennis Kenya, believes this is a landmark occasion for the East African nation.

“It is very exciting for Tennis Kenya, that we will be hosting our first-ever ITF Beach Tennis World Tour event,” Mbugua-Karani tells itftennis.com. “This is an exciting milestone, and we are thrilled to bring this event to the beautiful shores of Kenya.

“Beach Tennis is a rapidly growing sport around the world, so we are excited to see it gain popularity in Kenya. With its stunning beaches and perfect climate, Kenya is the perfect host for these tournaments.

“We are sure that players and spectators alike will have an unforgettable experience.”

With the prestigious World Beach Games taking place in Bali in August, there are several multi-sport regional qualifying events on sands around the world in 2023. One of those will take place in Hammamet, Tunisia in June, with Kenya keen to use the BT10 competitions as preparation.

“The BT10 tournaments will be part of the Kenya Beach Games to be held by the National Olympic Committee of Kenya”, said Mbugua-Karani. “We extend our gratitude to NOC-Kenya for making this event a reality through the hosting of the Kenya Beach Games.”

Ben Philip, the ITF’s Head of Beach Tennis, added: “Beach Tennis has traditionally been popular in the north and the south of the continent, with South Africa, in particular, very active in attending the World Cup and hosting several international tournaments.

“Welcoming Kenya to the World Tour is an important step for a sport which we think has fantastic potential across the continent, harnessing the natural advantages of Africa that lend itself to the sport.”

With ranking points on offer, the B10 tournaments in Malindi are sure to attract the best Beach Tennis players from across Kenya and the wider region.