The Kenya Davis Cup team will have to go back to the drawing board after missing out on promotion to Davis Cup Africa Group III in Luanda, Angola, over the weekend.
Team Kenya posted mixed fortunes in the week-long tournament, winning two matches and losing two in a competitive tournament held at the Academia de Tennis Kikuxi Villas Club's hard court surface.
Derrick Ominde said there are a couple of areas the team has to work on if they are to gain promotion next year. "Overall, our service game and doubles play will have to improve. We came up short in those two facets of play against the teams we lost to," Ominde revealed.
He added: “Exposure will be key if we are to improve. We have to play competitive tournaments round the clock to keep us in good shape before returning to competition."
Ominde said Kenya has a young side but believes they are headed in the right direction despite mixed fortunes. Kenya lost their opening match to Democratic Republic of Congo 2-1.
In the single matches, Kael Shah got off to a good start with a 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) win over Christian Saidi. However, the Congolese bounced back in the second singles match with William Bushamuka edging Ibrahim Yego 6-1, 6-3.
In the doubles, Shah and Yego were no match for Bienvenu Bolangi and Bushamuka, going down 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 ( 7-4), 6-1 with two of the sets going to tie breaks.
Team Kenya's hopes of bouncing back were dashed by Burundi in the second match. Albert Njogu lost to Allan Gatoto 6-4 , 6-3.
Shah defeated Guy Iradukunda in three tough sets, winning 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, 6-1. Ominde and Shah came up short in the doubles category when they lost to Gatoto and Iradukunda 6-1, 6-2
Kenya made light work of Rwanda with a 3-0 win as Njogu beat Ernest Habiyambere 6-4, 6-3, 6-4. Shah trounced Junior Hakizumwami 6-4, 6-1.
In the doubles category, Shah andYego edged Joshua Muhire and Etienne Niyigana 6-0, 6-4. In the relegation playoff, Kenya defeated Cameroon 2-1 to keep their status for next year
