Dala Hard Court Tennis: Atseye, Lawal, Babalola move to Q/Final

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.

Dala Hard Court Tennis: Micheal, Babalola Qualify For Second Round

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.

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.