The ongoing C, NPA National Tennis Open reached a crucial stage today with places in the semifinal up for grabs.
In some of the second round matches played yesterday at the 5.7m prize-money event holding at the Package B centre of the National Stadium in Abuja, Clifford Enosoregbe defeated Ikechukwu Iloputa 6-1, 6-2 while Henry Atseye fought to a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 win over Taiwo Owolabi.
Emmanuel Idoko also put paid to the ambition of Etim Ekanem with a 6-3, 6-3 victory just as Candy Idoko ousted Nonso Madueke, 7-6(4), 7-6(4) in a nervy encounter.
Junior sensation, Joseph Imeh also did a quick-fire double against Emmanuel Sunday with a 6-3, 6-2 win is joined by Sylvester Emmanuel who outsmarted John Botu 6-4, 6-1 and Hamidu Abdullahi, a 7-5,6-3 winner against Chukwuma Abaa
In the Women’s Singles, Osareimen Airhunwunde walloped Blessing Anuna 6-2, 6-2, as Christie Agugbom outshined Rita Obasogie, 6-0, 6-1.
Sarah Adegoke showed her intentions to hold on to her place as Nigeria’s number one female tennis players as she saw off Zainab Oladimeji, 6-1, 6-1.
Nigeria Tennis Federation President, Engr Sani Ndanusa, while commending the NPA for bankrolling the week-long championship applauded the standard of play, noting that the fact that some of the junior players recorded victories over their senior colleagues shows that the future of Nigerian tennis is bright.
“The determination of the players to succeed, especially the junior ones is something that is a delight to the NTF.
We can confidently say that the prospect of Nigerian players in the game is very bright,” said Ndanusa, who canvassed for more corporate sponsors for tennis in the country.
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