CBN Tennis: Melissa Powers On, As Top Seeds Qualify

Melissa Ifidzhen clinched a quarterfinal place in the women’s singles of the 37th Central Bank of Nigeria Tennis Championship holding in Lagos after a 6-0, 4-6, 6-0 win over Sarah Adegoke to send shivers down the spines of her rivals at the tournament which is ending on Saturday.

The Russian-Nigerian will now face Patience Onebhamoin for a place in the last four where she could meet either Blessing Anuna or Beauty Mcleod, who both secured quarterfinal spots with 6-1, 6-1 and 6-2, 6-0 wins over Pauline Ebijimi and beauty Ogenekevwe respectively.

Defending champion and women’s top seed, Christy Agugbom ended the dream of Angel Mcleod with a 6-1, 6-4 win to set up a mouth-watering tie with 2013 queen Ronke Akingbade, a 6-1, 6-4 victor over Aminat Quadri.

37th Central Bank of Nigeria Tennis Championship

Blessing Samuel and Aanu Aiyegbusi will clash in the last quarterfinal after wins against Afolarin Akosile and Kelechi Njoku.

In the men’s singles, defending champion, Abdulmumuni Babalola defeated Michael Eludoyin 6-2, 6-1 to book a third round tie with Monday Igbinovia, who out stroked Chukwuma Abba 7-5, 6-2.

Governor’s Cup Lagos tennis reigning champion, Moses Michael also continued with his impressive form as he brushed aside Destiny Ford Da-Silva 6-4, 6-2.

Among other players that secured victories yesterday are top seed, Clifford Enosoregbe, Lawal Shehu, Joseph Imeh, Iekchukwu Iloputa, Henry Atseye, John Otu, Thomas Otu, Emmanuel Sunday, Nonso Madueke and Sunday Maku.

37th CBN Tennis Championship serves off in Lagos

The 37th Central Bank of Nigeria Tennis Championship will hold in Lagos from 14th – 23rd of May with about 200 players expected to feature.

CBN’s Director Corporate Communications Department, Ibrahim Mu’azu, at a press briefing in Lagos yesterday said the championship, which has been the foundation on which Nigerian tennis is laid will, among others, serve as the platform for the selection of players that will represent Nigeria at the forthcoming Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa and the All Africa games in billed for August in Congo.

He added that the Wheelchair tennis, which was introduced to the championship in 2013 will also feature this year.

He stressed that Wheelchair tennis has helped Nigeria’s dominance in Africa following the country’s winning of the African qualifier for the World Cup which took place in the Netherlands last year.

Players are to compete in five categories namely singles (men and women) doubles (men and women) as well as mixed doubles.

The singles’ champions will each receive N700,000 while finalists will pocket N500, 000. The champions and finalists for men and women in the wheelchair event will get N250, 000 and 200, 000.

Meanwhile, players are to sign a code of conduct for the championship.

NTF President, Engr. Sani Ndanusa said the move is in line with the global best practice.

“We are instilling discipline in the players as it is done in major tournaments across the world because no player is bigger than the federation, said Ndanusa, who was represented by NTF’s 1st vice president, Yemi Owoseni.