Rehema Athumani attempts to return a shot during a semifinal match of the ongoingTanga Cement championship at the Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club courts, yesterday. (Photo: Selemani Mpochi)

Tanzanian Jacob Jonas stormed into the singles final of the second edition of the Tanga Cement championship to meet Rwandan Jean Claude Gasingwa at the Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club centre court today.

Jonas cruised to the final after three and a half hour nail-biting semifinal encounter when he sent packing Shaaban Yasin by 3-6,7-5,6-0 best of three sets.

He won in close shave situation after coming to level on tie-break of the second set to salvage a lifeline and stay in contention.

He thereafter played superbly to take control of the third decisive set.

His opponent from Rwanda, Gasingwa, saw off die hard Kenyan Rogoi Francis by two straight identical sets of 6-4 and book a place in today’s final.

It was another day for the host players as Morogoro based Rehema Athumani needed just half an hour to demolish Kenyan Veronica Osogo by 6-0, 6-2 sets in the first semifinal for ladies played early in the morning hours.

Athumani’s final opponent would be the semifinal winner between Kenyan Caroline Oduor and Inger Njau played late in the evening.