The Nellions Tennis Open is positioning itself as a growing platform for Kenyan tennis talent, with organisers promising to expand the competition and create more opportunities for players across different age groups.
Being held on October 7-11, at Parklands Sports Club, the tournament has attracted 26 players in the men’s singles, 18 in the women’s singles and 10 in the Masters Men’s category for competitors aged 35 and above.
Business Development Manager at Nellions Moving and Relocations, Samuel Mwaura disclosed on Thursday, October 8, that the event was established to address the lack of platforms for players to showcase their abilities.
“We are very glad to give back to the community because this is an event that we saw that the community is not getting that opportunity to express or showcase their talents,” explained Mwaura.
The inaugural tournament was held last year, and its competitiveness prompted the organisers to stage a second edition with a different structure.
This year, seniors and Masters players were separated, with the senior category catering for players aged 14 and above and the Masters section reserved for those aged 35 and above.
Mwaura noted that the change was intended to ensure players compete against opponents of a similar level and age group.
“Last year we did put everyone in the same pool. But now this year we have separated the people, seniors and Masters,” he said.
The tournament is being staged in conjunction with Tennis Kenya, meaning players can earn ranking points in addition to competing for prize money.
Mwaura urged more women, particularly those in the Masters age bracket, to enter future editions.
“I would really love to encourage our ladies to come and join us even in our next tournament,” he said, noting that the event provides an opportunity to gain points through the Tennis Kenya platform.
Entry fees have also been adjusted, with senior players paying KES 1,500 and Masters competitors KES 2,000. In 2025, the entry fee was KES 1,000.
Mwaura observed that the organisers were encouraged by the response and wanted to grow the prize money and overall tournament each year.
“We want to grow this tournament every year so that we can even support those people who have talent and they are not able to showcase themselves elsewhere,” he added.
The event has already provided a platform for several promising youngsters.
Fourteen-year-old Bathsheba Ogamba, who reached the women’s semi-finals, said she is targeting the final so that she can begin raising funds for bigger ITF tournaments.
She recently returned from Morocco, where she reached the Masters, the top eight in Africa, and said the experience taught her the importance of preparation, fitness and competitiveness.
Fifteen-year-old Felicia Ouko is also among the youngsters making an impression. She stormed into the semi-finals after defeating Azaliya Kaviuisya 6-0, 6-0 and explained that improvements in her consistency, serving and mental approach have made her a stronger player than in 2025.
The tournament has also attracted established players such as defending men’s champion Ismael Changawa and Davis Cup player Raymond Oduor.
Oduor observed that more regular competitions were needed for senior players, suggesting tournaments such as the Nellions Open could ideally be held every two weeks.
Mwaura said the event was about more than tennis, highlighting the fitness, discipline and healthy lifestyle required to compete.
“You need to be so healthy, even watching whatever you are eating,” he said.
“It is about fitness and it’s about you as a person, how you take care of yourself because you are alone on the field.”
Meanwhile, Nellions CEO Cosmas Kamuyu is among the 10 Masters competitors and won his opening match, while Silvanus Isoso led the other Masters group after the first two matches.
The tournament organisers now hope the growing competition will become an annual fixture that provides Kenyan players with a reliable route to competition, ranking points and greater exposure.
Men singles semi-finals will see top seed Ismael Changawa take on fifth seed Liberty Kibue as fourth seed Oduor meet second seed Albert Njogu.
Changawa beat seventh seed Aum Chandarana 6-0, 6-1, Kibue stunned Rwandan third seed Erneste Habiyambere 3-6, 7-6, 6-1, Oduor humbled sixth seex Jeff Okuku 6-3, 6-7, 6-3, while second seed Albert Njogu defeated eighth seed Gilbert Wechuli 6-0, 6-0.
In the girls semi-finals, it will be top seed Stacy Yego versus third seed Seline Ahoya from Lavington Girls Secondary School, as fourth seed Bathsheba Ogamba meet second seed Felicia Ouko. Yego trounced seventh seed Tumelo Kimunya 6-2, 6-1, second seed Ouko saw off eighth seed Azaliyah Kavuisya 6-0, 6-0, third seed Ahoya outwitted fifth seed Paula Akinyi 6-1, 6-3, while Ogamba outclassed sixth seed Jenerica Rogoi 6-4, 6-0.
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