How the Rwanda Challenger can be a blueprint for the growth of tennis in Africa

The ATP Challenger Tour returns to Africa this week for the third edition of the Rwanda Challenger, with back-to-back tournaments scheduled from March 2 to March 15 in Kigali. The first week offers $107,000 in total prize money and 75 ATP ranking points to the champion, while the second week raises the stakes to $177,000 and 100 ATP ranking points.

In 2024, Rwanda became the seventh African nation to host an ATP Challenger Tour event. Among the distinguished guests at the inaugural final were President Paul Kagame, First Lady Jeannette Kagame, and 1983 Roland Garros champion Yannick Noah—a strong signal of the tournament’s national and international significance.

A unique stop on the Challenger circuit

However, professional tennis events in sub-Saharan Africa remain rare, which makes Kigali a particularly special stop on the calendar. Set at the IPRC Kicukiro Ecology Tennis Club on a sprawling university campus in northern Kigali, the venue blends the familiar clay-court atmosphere of the Challenger Tour with the vibrant character of Central Africa.

Getting to the site is an experience in itself. As a visitor you can opt for a Boda Boda—a motorcycle taxi— navigating city traffic with your baggage in one hand and helmet provided by the driver. Upon arrival, the setting feels recognizable: ATP Challenger branding, classic clay courts, and the omnipresent “Visit Rwanda!” campaign framing the event. The center court offers notably comfortable seating under a shaded roof, while free entry creates a relaxed and welcoming environment for spectators.

Security measures are thorough, with detection dogs and a visible police presence ensuring a safe environment. Kigali consistently leaves visitors with the impression of being exceptionally clean and secure.

Beyond the courts, Rwanda’s identity is ever-present. The gorilla—a national symbol made globally famous by the 1988 film Gorillas in the Mist—appears everywhere, from coffee brands to statues. During the previous editions, some players took the opportunity to explore further afield, visiting Akagera National Park in eastern Rwanda, home to the Big Five and sweeping savannah landscapes.

Yet Rwanda’s natural beauty stands alongside an inescapable history. The Kigali Genocide Memorial serves as a place of reflection, reminding visitors of the country’s tragic past while highlighting its extraordinary transformation into a modern and forward-looking nation.

A vision for growth

Tournament director Arzel Mevellec, who also runs the ATP Challenger events in Quimper, France, as well as is in Brazzaville, Republic of Conga and Abidjan, Ivory Coast, has been instrumental in bringing professional tennis to Kigali.

Mevellec describes the continent as “a great subject of development for tennis,” pointing out that since 1990 there had been no ATP Challenger tournaments in sub-Saharan Africa. “North African countries like Tunisia and Morocco are well connected to Europe. They have a couple of tournaments and many players. But in sub-Saharan Africa? Nothing,” he stated last year.

Organizing a professional tournament in the region presents distinct challenges.

“You are able to organize tournaments in France totally disconnected from the clubs. In Africa, you need to be connected to the local clubs. I think it’s just a matter of culture,” Mevellec said. “We want to organize something like we did in Quimper, where the tournament has grown over the past years. We also want to support the locals, but we need to respect all the standards and ATP rules.”

Despite some logistical hurdles, Mevellec sees significant long-term potential.

“Africa is becoming a key focus,” he said. But for him, the project is about more than staging a tournament.

“I hope that my local partner will become the tournament director within the next few years. I hope to come and just see the improvements—that they are able to develop the tournament by themselves,” he added.

“In the past the French were good in giving advice to people all over the world. I am not like this. I just want to share my experience with local people because there are many with a lot of talent here.”

Trungelliti headlines 2026 Rwanda Challenger 1

The 2026 Rwanda Challenger promises a compelling mix of experience and emerging talent with world No. 134 Marco Trungelliti leading the field.

The 35-year-old Argentine is a familiar face in Kigali. When the tournament debuted in March of 2024, Trungelliti lifted the trophy, defeating France’s Clément Tabur in the final. The former world No. 112 will open his new Rwanda campaign against Garrett Johns from the United States.

Among the rising stars to watch is France’s Arthur Gea. The 21-year-old from Carpentras recently reached the second round of the 2026 Australian Open and turned heads at the Open Occitanie in Montpellier by upsetting world No. 56 Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. His dynamic game is expected to add further intrigue to the draw. Second-seeded Gea leads the bottom half of the draw and starts his title bid against a qualifier.

Luka Mikrut of Croatia is the third seed in the "Land of a Thousand Hills," taking on Jonas Forejtek from Czechia in the first round. Spanish veteran Roberto Carballés Baena rounds out the top four seeds. The 32-year-old Tenerife native will play Austrian Sandro Kopp in the opening round.

Local interest will center on Eliakim Coulibaly, the 22-year-old Ivorian who stands as the only African player among the top-ranked entrants in this year’s main draw. Coulibaly will be making his third appearance in the Rwanda Challenger. He reached the quarterfinals last season before going on, just a month later, to claim his maiden ATP Challenger title on home soil in Abidjan. Coulibaly opposes French wild card entry Cesar Bouchelaghem in his first-round match.