Top seed Changawa optimistic ahead of Karen Open

Top seed and defending champion Ismael Changawa is optimistic of retaining the Karen Open Tournament title ahead of its serve off on Saturday at the Karen County Club.

Ismael who is using the tournament as a litmus test ahead of the International Tour in Europe early next year, The Davis Cup, is expected to make a comeback after failing to secure chance in the Britam Open Tournament.

“There are several senior players who will be participating in the tournament but I think I have prepared enough since I’m focusing more on the Davis Cup,” Changawa said.

Britam Open champion Ibrahim Yego is also expecting to shine after  being eliminated in the quarter-finals in Botswana.

“The loss at the quarter-finals in Botswana also motivated me to prepare more for the tournament,” Yego said.

In the women’s entries Kenya will miss 14-year-old Angela Okutoyi, the defending champion in the Britam Open tournament as she is playing in the Eddie Harr championship in Florida.

Shufaa Changawa who is two times ITF Pro Circuit and  WTA Tour champion will also not participate in the tournament as she is currently recuperating from an arm injury.

Among the players expected in the tournament is a right handed finalist in last year’s tournament Duncan Mugabe from Uganda and Sheil Kotecha, Kenyan who is nine times ITF Pro champion.

The winner in both male and female singles will each be bag KSh95,000 in prize money.