With the pier at Buntwani Waterfront Park in Malindi, Kenya as a back drop, East Africa’s first ever ITF Beach Tennis events were held on 18-19 March 2023 to great acclaim.  

It was a weekend of firsts as the showcase was part of the Kenya National Olympic Committee’s first ever Beach Games in the sun and sand of the Indian Ocean.  

Two BT10 events, dubbed Oceans Blue 1 and 2, were held on consecutive days in the Kenyan coastal city. The region has now been inducted into the sandy side of tennis and with it a chance for players to get ranking points as the sport looks to spread its tentacles in the region.  

The events saw eight men’s and five women’s doubles pairings (drawn from Spain, Uganda, Rwanda, Sudan and host nation Kenya) compete for bragging rights and the chance to etch their names into history as the first ever winners of a Beach Tennis event on East African soil.  

Tennis Kenya’s Secretary General Mrs Wanjiru Mbugua – Karani served as Tournament Director and described the events as a great success.  

“I appreciate that everything went so well and was excited that we were able to activate Beach Tennis,” Mrs Karani said at the close of the event. She added that Tennis Kenya would hold further clinics in different cities on the Kenyan coast.  

In the men’s event, Spain’s Borja Navas partnered with Kenya’s Fazal Khan, a native of the neighbouring town of Mombasa, to claim victory in the Oceans Blue 1 event with a 6-4 6-3 win over brothers Karisa Hassan and Kazungu Kesi.  

Their feat wouldn’t be repeated in the Oceans Blue 2 the following day, falling one hurdle short in a hard-fought final against Kenyan Davis Cup teammates Albert Njogu and Derick Ominde. With the score at 7-6(3) 3-2 in favour of Njogu and Ominde, Navas retired under the punishing heat of Malindi.  

The Ugandan duo of Judith Nalukwago and Patience Athieno claimed both women’s titles, beating Sudan’s Achu Madhieu and Kenya’s Faith Urasa 7-6(5) 6-3 in the first instalment.  

On Sunday, they worked their magic again and in a dominant showing took down Kenya’s Stacey Yego and Shufaa Changawa 6-2 6-2 to wrap up the double, having not dropped a set all weekend.  

Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, was on hand to present the winners with their prizes as they stood atop the podium on Sunday. The Indian Ocean’s roar behind them was not enough to drown the applause.  

With the warm reception Beach Tennis got over the weekend, it would be safe to assume that plans are underway, not only in Kenya but in the greater East African region, to have a greater number of Beach Tennis events on the ITF calendar and rival other regions that are leading the charge so far.  

As one of the players put it, “everything in Beach Tennis is relaxed and has a great vibe to it.”