Rwanda Challenger brings March tennis back to Kigali
Kigali is turning professional tennis into a calling card for Rwanda’s tourism and services economy this March. The ATP Challenger Tour returned to Africa this week for the third edition of the Rwanda Challenger, with back-to-back tournaments scheduled from March 2 to March 8 at the IPRC Kicukiro Ecology Tennis Club on a university campus in northern Kigali.
The prize money rises from $107,000 in week one to $177,000 in week two, with 75 ATP ranking points available for the first champion and 100 for the second. In 2024, Rwanda became the seventh African nation to host an ATP Challenger Tour event and the inaugural final drew 1983 Roland Garros champion Yannick Noah.
On site, clay courts sit under Challenger branding and the “Visit Rwanda!” campaign, with free entry and shaded seating that keeps the atmosphere easy. Tournament director Arzel Mevellec puts the ambition plainly: “Africa is becoming a key focus.” With familiar names returning and new talent arriving, Kigali looks set to keep building a sporting platform that brings visitors, attention and long-term opportunity.
