By KPC Sports Reporter
Tennis Kenya signed a landmark partnership with the French Tennis Federation (FFT) during the French Open at Roland Garros on Saturday.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed by Tennis Kenya President Wanjiru Mbugua-Karani and FFT President Gilles Moretton, promises to transform the sport’s development in Kenya through technical exchange, infrastructure support, and international exposure.
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The ceremony, held at the iconic stadium, was witnessed by Kenya’s Ambassador to France Betty Cherwon, Evans Achoki from the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, and senior FFT officials including Deputy President Lionel Ollinger and Nathalie Dechy.
Also present were Francis Mutuku, Lynette Lokuruka, Daniel Chirchir, Jack Munywoki, Stéphane Renaud-Bezot, and Lucas Durand.
The MoU outlines a wide range of initiatives: a Junior High-Performance Pathway for players under 18, a Junior Development Pathway for those under 14, reciprocal junior competition exchanges, clay-court infrastructure development, coach education, officiating development, club governance, and leadership training.
“This collaboration is envisioned as a long-term partnership between France and Kenya, creating mutual value for both federations and their broader tennis ecosystems,” said Moretton.
Mbugua-Karani hailed the agreement as a breakthrough moment.
“Today I felt very proud. This MoU with the FFT is a big step for us at Tennis Kenya and a beautiful example of what is possible when we knock on doors and build genuine relationships,” she remarked, adding that the vision is to create opportunities for players, coaches, officials, and clubs to grow and compete globally.
Quick wins from the deal include enhanced international exposure for Kenyan players and coaches, transfer of clay-court expertise adapted for local clubs, and strengthened junior pathways.
Kenyan officials will benefit from referees’ internships at Roland Garros and French tournaments, while club leaders will gain insights from the French club system, regarded as one of the world’s most structured development models.
The partnership also guarantees reciprocal exchange programmes in governance and administration, with the FFT facilitating logistics in France and Tennis Kenya arranging international travel.
Junior players will participate in ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors events in France through a twinning programme with Club Istres, while French juniors will compete in Kenyan ITF events later this year.
Additionally, Kenyan players under 14 will embark on an international summer training and competition tour in July, while coaching seminars and academy visits will be delivered during ITF junior events in Kenya from October to November.
The agreement follows Mbugua-Karani’s visit to Istres earlier in the week, where she met Mayor Robin Pretot to launch an exchange programme between Istres Sport Tennis Club and Tennis Kenya.
The delegation later watched the dramatic Roland Garros clash where Brazil’s Joao Fonseca stunned Novak Djokovic, underscoring the global stage on which Kenyan tennis now seeks to belong.
This historic partnership cements Kenya’s place in the international tennis community, promising a future of stronger technical capacity, deeper institutional collaboration, and opportunities for young players to shine beyond borders.
