NAIROBI, Kenya, June 14 – After cruising through her first match at the Billie Jean King Cup in Nairobi, Kenya’s Melissa Mwakha says she is ready to surge on in the continental showpiece.
Mwakha combined forces with Roselinda Asumwa to complete Kenya’s mauling of Uganda after thrashing Winnie Birungi and Patience Athieno 6-2 6-0 in their doubles match on Wednesday afternoon at the Nairobi Club.
Mwakha said the win is exactly what she needs as she aims to make a bigger impact for Team Kenya at the 12-team tournament.
“I am really happy that I received this opportunity to represent the country. It was my first match of the tournament today and it felt so good. I am excited and looking forward to what else the competition has to offer,” Mwakha said.
On her part, Asumwa expressed her delight at playing alongside Mwakha, noting that she had thoroughly enjoyed picking their opponents apart on the court.
“It felt great playing with Melissa playing with the first time. It was our first doubles match together…she turned and I also turned up and I am so grateful to be playing with her,” Asumwa said.
The imperious display notwithstanding, Asumwa revealed that the match was nothing like taking candy from a baby.
“It was easy but at the same time I would say it was not easy. We had to give our best and play our game rather than playing their game. There were moments of nervousness but we managed to pull through and win,” she said.
This was Asumwa’s second doubles match of the tournament following Tuesday’s tie against Botswana’s Chelsea Chakanyuka and Kelebogile Monnayoo in which she teamed up with twin sister Angella Okutoyi to win 6-2 6-4.
In other Group A matches on Wednesday, Morocco whitewashed Namibia 3-0 as Nigeria dismissed Botswana with the same scoreline.
Zimbabwe beat Seychelles 3-0 in Group B as Tunisia beat Burundi with the same scoreline.
