KIGALI, March 4, 2025

Maximilian Neuchrist is back in Kigali. Last September, the 33-year-old from Vienna claimed the ITF World Tennis Tour M25 title at the IPRC Kicukiro Ecology Tennis Club. This time, he is competing in the two-week Rwanda Challenger swing.

In the first week, Neuchrist reached the semi-finals, where he ultimately lost to Slovakian qualifier Andrej Martin. On his way there, he battled past his young compatriot Joel Schwaerzler in three sets in the second round.

Ahead of his participation in the second week, we caught up with Neuchrist to discuss the tournament and his experiences in Africa.

Tennis Tour Talk: Maximilian, you’re back in Kigali. How does it feel?

Maximilian Neuchrist: It’s definitely different this time. It’s much hotter than in October. The balls fly faster, which is noticeable on the court. I had some struggles in the first week and had to adapt, but my serve saved me. Beating Joel was fortunate—he was a set and a break up and had the match under control. But with one strong game, I managed to fight back, and he lost some of his rhythm. Overall, I feel comfortable here, and so far, things are going well.

You’ve played several tournaments in Africa. How would you describe the tournament scene here?

Over the past 12 years, I’ve played in Africa only about four times, so not that often. Countries want to present themselves positively, and sports events are a great way to do that. Rwanda is a leader among Central African nations in this regard. The Tour du Rwanda cycling race just took place, and they’re even considering hosting a Formula 1 Grand Prix. A lot of investment is happening, and the strategy seems to be working. Atmosphere-wise, the differences from Europe aren’t too big—it mostly depends on where you play. The overall experience is quite pleasant, even though the stadium isn’t packed during the week. But there are always spectators, and I enjoy being in Africa.

Muraho from the IPRC Kicukiro Tennis Club

The second tournament of the two-week @RWAChallenger swing is underway! #ATPChallenger #Kigali #RwandaChallenger2025 @visitrwanda_now pic.twitter.com/crmhKQ0RPu

— TennisTourTalk (@TennisTourTalk) March 3, 2025

You also played at the Brazzaville Challenger two weeks ago. That event gained attention because the entry list wasn’t full, and there was an off-court incident. What was your experience in the Republic of Congo?

You can tell that Congo is poorer than Rwanda—it’s much dirtier, and the humidity is higher. But the organization team was the same as here, and they did a fantastic job, putting together a top-tier event. When the smoke grenades went off near the venue, I was on the center court, watching Maik Steiner’s match. I was basically one tennis court away. It took only two or three seconds before a cloud of smoke spread across the facility. It itched briefly, and matches were interrupted for about eight minutes—that was it. I heard that the adjacent area belongs to the Ministry of Defense, but the local community also uses it as a football field. Military exercises had been scheduled throughout the week, but at no point did I feel unsafe. Overall, the tournament was fine.

Did you discuss why so few players signed up?

Several factors played a role. First, it was a smaller Challenger 50 event. Also, you needed a yellow fever vaccination for entry, and I’m not sure when the ATP communicated that. Fortunately, I knew about it in advance and took care of my travel plans early. If you don’t book flights in time, they can be expensive, which likely deterred some players.

How would you assess your season so far?

My semi-final run last week helped me a lot because I had a rough start to the season. The end of last year was great, but in December, I tore a muscle fiber in my calf. I planned to start in Oeiras, even traveled there, but couldn’t compete due to the injury. Right now, I can still use my Protected Ranking from last year’s injury break. I started my season in Tunisia, and now I’m looking to carry this momentum from Rwanda forward.

You received a Wild Card for the second week of the Rwanda Challenger.

I’m very grateful for that—it’s not something I take for granted. The tournament director rewarded players who performed well in Brazzaville with wild cards, which I think is a great approach. I believe this is actually the first wild card I’ve ever received in my career.

Have you discovered any special spots in Kigali?

During the ITF tournament, I played both the singles and doubles finals and left Kigali the evening after the final. I stayed close to the venue, so I didn’t get to explore the city or the country, which is a shame because I know there’s a lot to see. There are museums, and a rich history to learn about. A safari was also offered, but I haven’t had the chance to go. On the other hand, that also means I’ve been busy playing matches, which isn’t a bad thing. One thing I can say—the food here is excellent. I’ve never been disappointed anywhere, although you do need a bit more time, as things take a little longer here. But that’s just part of the experience.

Thank you, and best of luck!

Interview: Florian Heer