Tennis in Rwanda began in the late 1940s on a few clay courts, likely introduced by Catholic missionaries or Belgian colonialists. The Kigali Sports Club (CSK), founded in 1956, was the first major club. Umubano Méridien, with four courts, was established in 1986, followed by Nyarutarama in 1989 and Amahoro Tennis Club, both remaining key tennis hubs. In the late  2000s, efforts to promote tennis at schools and build infrastructure gained momentum, supported by President Paul Kagame,a tennis player himself. His investment in the first Rwanda Open in 2000 inspired further development, including hosting an ITF professional circuit event and ATP challengers later on.