After two rounds of qualifying matches, the main draw of the 2016 Dala Hard Court Tennis Championship serves off Monday in Kano with Moses Michael and Christy Agubgom as the top seeds for the men’s and women’s singles. Tournament Secretary, Yusuf Datti informed that no fewer than 128 players featured in the Men’s preliminary while […]
via Moses Micheal, Agugbom Are Top Seeds As Dala Hard Court Begins In Kano — newfanzoneblog
Moses Michael and Melissa Ifidzhen, Saturday emerged men’s and women’s singles champions of the 38th Central Bank of Nigeria Open Tennis Championship in Lagos. Moses bagged a 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 win over Sylvester Emmanuel for his first title at the event while Melissa successfully defended her crown with a dominant 6-3, 6-2 win over top […]
via Moses, Melissa Are CBN Tennis champions — newfanzoneblog
Nigerians are no longer in contention for honours at the Dayak Tennis Championship holding at the National Tennis Centre, Package B, National Stadium, Abuja after the duo of Moses Michael and Umaru Balami lost their second round matches on Wednesday. Michael, who is the highest ranked Nigerian player by the ATP at no 1204 was […]
via Dayak Tennis Championship: Nigeria’s Michael, Balami Bow Out In Second Round — newfanzoneblog
Nigeria’s Moses Michael progressed to the second round of the Dayak Tennis Championship with an impressive 7-6, 6-4 win over Anvit Bendre of India. Following the routine defeats of Thomas Otu and Sylvester Emmanuel in the earlier matches on the Centre court, of the National Tennis Centre, Abuja, Tuesday turned to be another happy-ending day […]
Emmanuel upsets Moses to claim Men’s title… As Agugbom revenges loss to Adegoke
Sylvester Emmanuel emerged Men’s Singles winner of the 2015 Dala Hard Court Tennis Championship in Kano on Saturday following a hard-fought 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-3 win over Moses Michael.
Moses went into the clash as the favourite and he showed why the odds favoured him claiming the opening set 6-4 after breaking his opponent in the seventh game but Emmanuel did not drop his head as he matched Moses, the reigning Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship title-holder, in all aspects of the game before he edged his opponent in a tie break for the second set.
The match proved to be the longest match in this year’s competition and after over three hours of exhilarating confrontation Sylvester sealed off the match in the rubber breaking Moses, who showed signs of exhaustion, twice to win the N500,000 prize with Moses pocketing N250,000.
Christie Agugbom also savoured the joy of winning the women’s crown for the first time after she defeated Sarah Adegoke in the Women’s singles 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.
It was a sweet revenge for Agugbom, who was beaten in straight sets by Adegoke in the previous final, as she went home with a trophy and also pocketed N300, 000 while Adegoke got N500, 000.
Albert Bikom and Sunday Maku combined to beat Christian Paul and Moses Micheal 4-6,7-6(4), 10-6 to win the Men’s Doubles.
Kano Sate Governor, Abdullahi Gundoje pledged government’s continuous support for sports.
Gundoje, who was represented by former NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima, pointed that sports has served as a tool to drive peace and employment opportunities for youths in the country.
NTF President, Engr Sani Ndanusa on his part commended the organisers for sustaining the tournament which he pointed has aided the development of Nigerian players.
Henry Atseye out-rallied Joseph Imeh 6-3, 6-4 on Wednesday to stay on course for the Men’s Singles title of the 2015 Dala Hard Court Tennis Championship in Kano.
Atseye, the 2013 CBN Open champion, proved too much for his younger opponent breaking him twice in the first set which he sealed with a cross-court backhand.
The opening four sets of the second set went on with the serves until the Imeh, a former ITF scholarship winner to the High Performance Centre in South Africa, double faulted at 30-40 to give Atseye an advantage which he sustained till the end of the encounter which lasted just over an hour.
Nigeria’s top ranked player in the ATP, Moses Michael made a sloppy start but recovered on time to beat Christopher Edward 1-6, 6-3, 6-1.
Michael, the reigning Governor’s Cup Lagos International Tennis Championship winner seems to be puzzled with his opponent’s serves in the opening set but made amend for it in the second and final set to move closer to the title.
Nonso Madueke also scaled the second round hurdle by beating Albert Bikom 6-2, 7-6 while Sylvester Emmanuel and John Otu also advanced to the quarterfinal with 7-5, 6-7 (5), 6-2 and 6-1, 6-1 victories over Sani Adamu and Umaru Balami.
Shehu Lawal also justified his favourite tag by brushing aside Etim Ekanem 6-3, 6-1 while Abdulmumuni Babalola who had been battling a shoulder injury had luck shone on him by gaining a walk over against Mohammed Mohammed.
In the Women’s quarterfinal, Pauline Ebijimi’s impressive run from the qualifying round was halted following a 6-0, 6-3 defeat to Aanu Aiyegbusi while Blessing Samuel shocked Osare Airhunwunde 4-6, 6-3, 6-0.
In the Men’s Doubles, Moses Micheal paired Christian Paul to beat Akor and Musa while Etim Ekanem and Thomas Otu combined to beat Henry Atseye and Monday Igbinovia
Kareem Badmus and Wunmi Ogunshaki upset Shehu Lawal and Sunday Emmanuel 6-3, 1-6, 10-7 to clinch a place in the semifinal.
The championship will end on Saturday with Governor Abdulahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state leading a roll call of dignitaries.
2014 Governor’s Cup Lagos International Tennis Championship winner, Moses Michael was merciless on Monday as he routed Jibrin Hassan 6-0, 6-0 to move into the second round of the Men’s Singles of the Dala Hard Court Tennis Championship holding at the Kano Tennis Club, Kano.
Moses relinquished his crown at the 2nd Atawodi Top 16 tourney in Abuja last week following a 6-3, 4-6, 6-7 loss to Shehu Lawal but was quick to vent his anger on his less experienced opponent whom he subdued with an embarrassing ease to send warnings to his major rivals.
He is joined in the next round by Abdul-mumuni Babalola who rallied from a set deficit to edge Ikechukwu Iloputa 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Babalola, who is still battling his fitness which prompted him to miss the top 16 event in Abuja, showed why he has consistently been ranked in the top 5 of Nigerian tennis for over a decade hitting series of winners in the deciding set.
Sunday Emmanuel also showed determination to go all the way with a convincing 6-1,6-1 win over Ikiliu Sani Waziri while Mohammed Mohammed beat Hassan yakubu 6-1, 6-2 to also progressed.
Etim Ekanem was victorious against John Otu who retired after losing the first set 6-3 while Out’s junior sibling, Thomas triumphed 6-2, 6-2 over Adris Aliyu.
In the final round of the women’s qualifying draw, Pauline Ebijimi defeated Esther Lasoju 4-2, 4-4 while
Christy Mbadiwe emerged tops in her clash with Beauty Oghenekevwe 4-0, 4-1. Bukola olowu and Osewa Ibrahim also made it to the main draw with 4-2, 4-2, and 4-0, 4-2 triumphs over Esther Lasoju and Faith Sunday respectively.
The pair of Henry Atseye and Monday Igbinovia also advanced in the men’s doubles after gaining a walkover against Akinwumi/Jonathan.
All the remaining matchwes in both the Men’s and Women’s singles will be decided today while there will also be matches in the doubles.
Defending champion Moses Michael recovered from a sloppy start by beating Sunday Emmaneul 2-6, 7-6, 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals of the 2nd Air Vice Marshal Atawodi Invitational Mini Tennis Tournament holding at the Tennis Section of the IBB Golf and Country Club, Abuja.
The Nigeria Tennis Federation-sanctioned tournament for the leading 16 male players serves as tune up for the 2015 Dala Hard Court Championship billed for next week in Kano.
The title holder will be joined in the last-eight by last year’s runner up, Thomas Otu who defeated Christian Paul 6-4, 6-4. It was a big reprieve for Otu, who had lost his last three matches against Paul.
Otu’s older sibling John also made the quarterfinal list following a 6-7, 7-6, 6-2 win over Ikechukwu Iloputa while Henry Atseye and Joseph Imeh also advanced with 6-3, 6-2 and 6-2, 6-3 triumphs against Monday Igbinovia and Onyekachi Mbanu.
Old war horse Sunday Maku proved too hot for Mohammed Mohammed with a 6-1 6-3 win just as Christopher Edward progressed at the expense of Emmanuel Idoko 7-6, 6-1.
The match of the day saw Shehu Lawal edge Sani Adamu 7-6, 6-4 in a battle of the old guard which was characterized by booming serves.
Draws for the quarterfinals were made today with Michael facing Lawal and Thomas Otu to confront Maku. Christopher will battle John Otu while Imeh and Atseye will tango for a place in the semifinal.
Nigeria’s top two players Clifford Enosoregbe and Abdulmumuni Babalola are missing the tournament due to injuries sustained at last weekend’s NCC League matches.
The emergence of Melissa Ifidzhen and Thomas Otu as the women and men singles winners of the 37th Central Bank of Nigeria Tennis Championship has been applauded by the sponsors.
According to the Director of Corporate Communication of the CBN, Ibrahim Mu’azu, the emergence of new sets of winners in the 10-day championship which was concluded at the weekend is a testimony that Nigeria has substantial number of talents in the sport.
Russian-born Melissa, who only opted to play for Nigeria early this year, defeated defending champion and top-seed, Christy Agugbom 6-3, 6-2 while Otu, a former finalist won the men’s title with a spirited performance against reigning Governor’s Cup champion, Moses Michael 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Mu’azu, who was on hand to witness the final matches played on Sunday morning due to an inclement weather on the original Saturday final date, pointed that more players will be encouraged to step up and challenge for the title, knowing that the tournament can be won by any player that is on top of his or her game.
“Firstly, the CBN is extremely delighted with the fact that the winners in the men and women singles are achieving the feat for the very first time in their career.
“We are equally happy about this development because it shows that we have abundant talents which can do Nigeria proud at top events like the Davis Cup and the All African Games,” he pointed.
Nigeria Tennis Federation President, Engr. Sani Ndanusa, on his part, said the federation will continue to provide the platform for players to excel in the game. He pledged that effort at getting more tournaments to keep the players in top form will be sustained with renew vigour.
Russian-born Nigerian tennis star, Melissa Ifidzhen will be the centre of attraction this morning as she confronts Henrietta Ogude in a first round match at the ongoing 37th Central Bank of Nigeria Open Tennis Championship holding at the National Stadium, Lagos.
The former Russian National junior champion started playing for Nigeria in March when she featured at the ITF/CAT U-18 Junior Championship in Egypt and is expected to scale the hurdle before her despite being a wild card entrant.
Melissa, born of a Nigerian father and a Russian mum, is aiming to go a step better than Elizabeth Garos-Pam, a London-based player who lost in the final on her first attempt last year.
Meanwhile, men’s singles defending champion, Abdulmumuni Babalola booked an easy passage to the second round with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Uche Okparaji.
In some other first round results, Moses Michael got the better of his Tombim teammate, Christian Paul 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 while he (Moses) is joined by Martins Abamu and Thomas Otu, who respectively defeated Jinadu Owolabi and Taiwo Owolabi 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 and 6-4, 6-4 to progress to the second round.
Other players that secured their passage into the next round are Chukwuma Abba, who defeated Bala Musa 7-5, 7-6; Monday Igbinovia also kept his dream to go all the way alive by beating Nnemeka Achisium 7-5, 6-4.
Also, 2013 men’s singles winner, Henry Atseye proved too much for Joseph Iyeruobe with a 6-2, 6-1 win.Hassan Yakubu outlasts Emma Dickson 7-6(6), 6-3 and Austin Nwokedi dumped Dauda Ayuba out with a 6-0, 6-3 win.
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