Kenya’s Albert Njogu.[Photo/Nation]Kenya’s Albert Njogu on Thursday crashed out of the ITF East African Under-18 Junior Circuit at the Nairobi Club. Njogu lost 3-6, 6-3, 4-6 to fourth seed Abdoul Shakur Kabura of Burundi in their boys’ quarter-final singles match.
Njogu, who was the only home player remaining in the boy’s competition, fought hard in the thrilling contest, but eventually lost.
The Kenyan admitted that he gave his best but didn’t manage to match Kabura.
“He had reserves in the deciding set and that proved to be the difference. It could have gone either way and I am disappointed not to be in the semi-final,” Njogu told Nation Sport. In a see-saw contest, Kabura sprinted into a 6-3, 3-1 lead before Njogu, seeded 10th, reiterated.
The Burundian finally pulled through in 1hr 20min with her fourth match point to move to within touching distance of the title.
“It was definitely very tough. I’m still recovering,” said Kabura, who saved two match points. The onus will now be on Sneha Kotecha to fly the Kenyan flag as she takes on sixth seed Metka Koman of Slovakia in one of today’s girls’ semi-final.
Kotecha, who is emerged second gave in to her opponent who dumped out third seed Aisha Niyonkuru of Burundi in the quarter-final.
“She is a very good player and the fact that she eliminated Aisha should tell you her quality,” said Kotecha.
The Kenyan teen saw off Russia’s Ksenia Shikanova 6-4, 6-3 in the previous round.
Sneha alongside Elena Gemovic lost 3-6, 4-6 to the pair of Komac and Paula Onita in their doubles semi-final encounter on Thursday.
The matches come to an end on Saturday.