Uganda’s tennis queen Athieno seeks global breakthrough at FISU Games

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Patience Athieno is aiming to build on her current form, which saw her clinch this year’s Uganda Tennis Open Women’s Singles Championship, as she heads to the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games in Germany from July 16 to 27.

Athieno, a bachelor’s degree student in Tourism and Hospitality Management at Victoria University, will be competing in her second FISU World University Games, having previously represented Uganda at the 2023 edition in Chengdu, China.

She will be part of a four-member team that includes Christiana Owomuhangi from Makerere University, as well as Frank Tayebwa and Trevor Kazibwe from Uganda Christian University.

Her victory at the Uganda Open stands as one of her biggest career milestones, adding to earlier achievements in a local ranking tournament in March and the Oduke Legendary Tournament last November.

Since 2022, Athieno has participated in several university tournaments. At the East Africa University Games in Ndejje, she secured a gold medal, which earned her the opportunity to represent Uganda in Chengdu, where she exited in the round of 32.

After returning from China, she competed in the All-Africa University Games at Makerere, emerging as the best performer after defeating a Ghanaian opponent in the final. She also excelled at the AUUS National University Games in 2023.

Reflecting on her debut experience, Athieno anticipates stiff competition in Germany but feels more prepared than before. She admitted to being nervous in Chengdu after being warned about the tough playing conditions.

"But now I know what it takes, and I hope to win some matches," she said.

In Chengdu, she suffered an early exit against an Argentine player.

“The competition is tough out there; they play on hard courts and start this sport earlier than us, aiming to become professionals, while we have to balance our education with tennis and other challenges,” she noted.

“Here, we primarily use clay courts, so adjusting to the hard courts requires faster reactions and more extensive training."

Despite the challenges, Athieno remains confident in her serve and backhand.

She began her tennis journey in 2012 at Kampala Club under the mentorship of her sister, Justine Akulo, who worked at the facility. Whenever she was not in school, Athieno would accompany her sister to the club. She began playing tennis in Primary Five and soon competed in under-10 tournaments, frequently finishing in first or second place.

Over the years, she competed in the under-12, under-14, under-16, and under-18 categories, consistently ranking among the top players. In 2016, she joined Kibuli Secondary School in Senior Two and participated in the national games in Masindi, where she dominated. She continued her winning streak the following year.

From 2016 to 2019, she was ranked the number one player in secondary schools and placed either second or third at the East Africa Secondary School Games.

Her education journey began at Nyonjo Primary School in Kanyanya before she moved on to Kibuli for both her O’level and A’level studies.