Argentine player's earnest review of first-ever ATP Challenger in Rwanda goes viral

An Argentine tennis player's review of the first-ever ATP Challenger in Rwanda is going viral for all the right reasons.

History was made last week as Rwanda became the first sub-Saharan country in Africa to host an ATP Challenger event. The capital city of Kigali is, in fact, hosting events in back-to-back weeks, and the first edition of the Rwanda Challenger concluded on Saturday at the IPRC-Kigali Ecology Tennis Club.

Enter Juan Pablo Paz, 29, who said he never would've visited the country if not for tennis. Paz, ranked No. 589 in singles and No. 244 in doubles, reached the second round in singles after upsetting eighth-seeded Egyptian Mohamed Safwat in the first round, as well as the semifinals in doubles at last week's event.

In a era where encounters with the new, different or unfamiliar can often lead to regrettable postings to social media (last month, Serbian player Dejana Radanovic came under fire for comments she made about India after competing in three consecutive ITF World Tennis Tour events there), Paz's wholesome thread on X in which he offered his thoughts on traveling to the country, the accomodations, and the tournament venue was the perfect antidote.

Paz had particularly raving reviews for the tournament's official hotel, the Park Inn by Radisson, rating the room and breakfast a 10 and praising the ammenities including the gym and pool.

"They even have an electric kettle in the room to heat water for mate... you couldn't ask for more," he said.

He also had strong compliments for the tournament venue and its hospitality to players, the match courts, and the friendly nature of Rawandans—which included a visit by the country's president for the singles final, which saw former world No. 75 Kamil Majchrzak beat Paz's countryman, Marco Trungelliti.

"As for the atmosphere of the tournament, there are quite a few people in the stands who are engaged in the matches and today even the president of Rwanda came to watch the Challenger final of the first week," he said.

Though Paz said there was room for improvement with tournament transportation (it could be cramped) and the on-site fitness center (light complaints, he stressed), it was thanks to Trungelliti that he offered his best travel tip: If you ever get the opportunity to try Rwandan coffee, you should take it.

"Thanks to Trunge who told me that here in Rwanda there was very good coffee," he said. "I started trying it and I must say YES, it is very good."

Set to play the second event in Kigali this week, Paz signed off by telling fans they should stay tuned for other wholesome travel tips.

"Unfortunately I haven't gone out much further yet, nor done any safaris or anything like that," he said. "But I promise that if I do something else I will tell you!"