French tennis player Calvin Hemery won the first week of the Rwanda Open M25 after defeating Zimbabwe’s Benjamin Lock 6-3, 6-3 in the final on Sunday, October 4, 2026.
The final was played at the IPRC Kigali tennis courts, which hosted the first week of the tournament that began on September 28 and featured 32 professional players.
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Hemery Wins on Rwanda Open Debut
Hemery dominated the final from the beginning, putting pressure on Lock and taking the first set 6-3.
The Frenchman maintained his advantage in the second set, winning it by the same score to complete a straight-sets victory and claim the first-week title without dropping a set.
Frenchman Beats Fellow Countryman in Semi-Final
Hemery reached the final after defeating fellow Frenchman Florent Bax 6-4, 6-4 in the semi-finals.
Lock secured his place in the final after defeating Netherlands player Max Houkes in a closely contested match, winning 2-1 with scores of 7-10, 3-6 and 6-2.
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Rwandan Players Exit in First Round
Two Rwandan players, Claude Ishimwe and Étienne Niyigena, represented the host country in the singles competition.
However, both players were eliminated in the first round as they faced strong competition from the international field.
Hemery Adds Rwanda Open Title to Career
The 31-year-old Hemery entered the final as the favourite because of his experience on the international tennis circuit and his strong performance throughout the tournament.
He was ranked world number 321 in the ATP rankings released on September 21, 2026, and previously reached a career-high ranking of 116 on April 30, 2018.
The victory marked his first Rwanda Open title on his debut appearance at the tournament.
Hemery Earns $3,600 and 25 Ranking Points
For winning the first week of the Rwanda Open M25, Hemery earned $3,600, approximately Rwf4.7 million, along with 25 ATP ranking points**.
His victory further highlighted the level of competition at the Kigali tournament, which attracted professional players from several countries.
Americans Win Doubles Title
In the doubles competition, Americans Axel Nefue and Noah Schachter won the title after defeating Burundi’s Allan Gatoto and Kenya’s Kael Shalin Shah 6-3, 6-2.
The Rwanda Open M25 will continue with its second week from Monday, October 5, to Sunday, October 11, 2026, giving more professional players an opportunity to compete in Kigali.
