Optimism high for Uganda's Simon Peter Ayella after ITF Men's Tour

Uganda's top tennis player, Simon Peter Ayella, remains optimistic about the impact of the recent ITF Men's World Tournament Tour on Ugandan players.

Along with Frank Tayebwa and Trevor Kazibwe, Ayella represented Uganda in two tournaments, the M25 and M15, held at Kampala Club in Nakasero.

Although they exited early, Ayella believes the experience will boost their preparation for the upcoming Kenya and Uganda Open tournaments in November and December.

The Ugandan players gained entry to the international tournaments through a wild card, a valuable opportunity facilitated by the Uganda Tennis Association (UTA).

Ayella faced Tunisia’s Aziz Ouakaa, losing 2-0 in the M15, while Kazibwe fell to India's T. Karra with the same score in the round of 16. Despite their losses, Ayella emphasized the benefits of competing against top-ranked international players, noting that it positively impacted their ITF rankings.

Reflecting on the experience, Ayella stated, "Participating in the tournament was a blessing. It has improved our rankings, and I believe my position on the continent will be lower by the next update."

He credited UTA for organising the event, which gave the Ugandans a rare chance to compete against some of the world's top 500 players.

He also highlighted the value of the exposure, explaining that playing and practicing with such seasoned athletes provided crucial lessons that will help them in the Uganda Open.

"The tournaments were beneficial not only to us Ugandans but also to East African players from Rwanda and Burundi, as we usually struggle to compete against these experienced players due to limited opportunities," Ayella added.

In the M15 final, Austrian Maximilian Neuchrist claimed victory over Germany's Maik Steiner, winning 2-0 (6-3, 6-2). Neuchrist also reached the M25 final but was defeated by Frenchman C. Denolly.

With the Uganda Open on the horizon in December and the Kenya Open scheduled for next month, Ayella and his fellow Ugandan players are eager to apply their newfound experience to these regional competitions, aiming for better results.