KIGALI/STARNBERG, February 25, 2025

After an exciting week in the Republic of Kongo at the Brazzaville Challenger, the ATP Challenger Tour clay-court swing moves to Kigali for the second edition of the Rwanda Challenger. Players will battle in the first of two back-to-back tournaments for a total prize money of $100,000 and a chance to make their mark on the African clay courts of the IPRC Kicukiro Ecology Tennis Club in the Rwandan capital.

Slovakian qualifier Andrej Martin headlined Tuesday’s first-round action by knocking tour World No. 105 and top seed Jesper de Jong from the Netherlands 7-6(1), 6-3. The former Top 100 player, who is currently sitting at World No. 428, withstood nine aces and broke De Jong’s serve one time to secure victory in one hour and 43 minutes.

Toppling the seed! @AndrejMartinSVK chalks up a 7-6(1), 6-3 triumph over de Jong#ATPChallenger | @RWAChallenger | #RwandaChallenger2025 pic.twitter.com/BNyrklwNMI

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) February 25, 2025

Martin will next take on Alex Marti Pujolras of Spain, who edged past Czech qualifier Dominik Kellovsky 7-6(11), 6-2 in one hour and 50 minutes.

French duo falls in opening round

Last week’s Brazzaville Challenger finalists both exited in the first round in Kigali. Champion Geoffrey Blancaneaux lost 6-4, 6-4 to Marco Cecchinato of Italy. Runner-up Calvin Hemery, seeded fourth in Rwanda, was forced to retire against Austrian alternate Maximilian Neuchrist, trailing 6-4, 2-0.

Cecchinato will take on No. 2 seed Carlos Taberner of Spain in the second round, Neuchrist opposes his compatriot Joel Schwaerzler.

In other action, Filip Cristian Jianu emerged victorious from the all-Romanian battle with Nicholas David Ionel, winning 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 36 minutes. Jianu will next play Austrian qualifier Neil Oberleitner.

Eliakim Coulibaly of the Ivory Coast knocked off Polish lucky loser Daniel Michalski 6-4, 6-4 and will next face Dutchman Max Houkes.