Kenya will bid to host the Davis Cup Group IV tournament next year, Tennis Kenya Secretary General Wanjiru Mbugua has announced.
Team Kenya will be seeking to qualify for Group 3 after falling short in Kigali, Rwanda this year in July where they lost 2-1 to Nigeria in the third-place playoff.
Mbugua is optimistic about Kenya’s chance of not only hosting but also achieving the dream of promotion.
“Our boys have come off age and playing at home will give us an advantage. Traditionally, we have always done well when we play at home and I am confident we can gain promotion to Group 3 in 2025,” said Mbugua.
TK, she added, are also eager to host the Billy Jean King Cup for the second year running.
“We had a successful event and I believe the upgraded courts at the Nairobi Club will help us host some of the big tournaments on the continent in the years to come,” added Mbugua.
At the BJKC, Team Kenya bagged a bronze medal after dispatching Zimbabwe 2-1 in the third-place playoff.
Mbugua, a former player who was recently elected Confederation of Africa Vice President, added that they are also working hard to ensure 2022 Wimbledon doubles junior champion Angela Okutoyi has all the support she needs as she fights to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
“We are looking at the qualification pathways to the Paris Games and we will do all we can to ensure she becomes our first tennis player to qualify for the Olympics,” added Mbugua.
And his new role as a continental administrator, Mbugua said she will find ways and means to strengthen some of the tournaments on the continent, especially the zonal competitions.
“If we can have training camps be it in Kenya, Uganda, or Tanzania, it will be good for our players’ skills and mindset as they prepare for major tournaments,” noted Mbugua.