Over in Africa, Uganda held its first international tennis competition for almost a decade. After owing debts to the International Tennis Federation, the country was finally permitted to host the Future Pro Circuit in Kampala which featured talent from all over the world, all competing for ranking points. As Leon Ssenyange reports, Ugandan tennis chiefs are now hoping this is the start of a tennis revival.

It is the first time in nine years that international tennis has been played on the courts here. And Uganda's Duncan Mugabe is making the most of the experience. While he represents the hopes of a nation, taking part in this international tennis federation tournament, has been a long time coming.

DUNCAN MUGABE UGANDAN TENNIS PLAYER "It's a good job getting the futures back, the Davis Cup back. Now it's important that we focus on our players, the exposure to get them to compete because the potential is there."

Because of debts owed to the international federation, Uganda has not been able to host any ITF competitions since 2009.

LEON SSENYANGE LUGOGO "Until the tennis federation here cleared over twenty thousand dollars in debt to the International Tennis Federation, there was barely any international competitions to talk about. Many of the players had been limited to local tournaments."

Readmission to the ITF last year was the boost that local tennis needed. And it came with big rewards; a return to the Davis Cup as well as hosting four Pro-Circuit Future events.

MXOLISI MATYOLO ITF REPRESENTATIVE "I think the ITF had a great idea because first these futures are not expensive to enter. Second they take too many players, like the qualifiers. If you can get your wild-cards in the qualifying four six others in the main draw, then you have ten players from Uganda in the tournament and that is great."

With the more travelled players bringing something different here, there is more for the home based players to learn. And the local federation is hoping it can use the competition to draw the tennis lines all over again.

CEDRIC BABU UGANDA TENNIS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT "One of our strategies is to get fifty thousand children playing tennis by 2024 and not just playing tennis but also playing tennis properly and in order to do that we need to focus a lot on the coaches and get them up to speed, get other people involved in officiating and get that ecosystem of tennis."

The tennis courts here could now become more active than before. While it may not be the chance for Uganda's stars to shine just yet, the country is planning some big hits for the future. LS, CGYN.