Joseph Imeh and Sarah Adegoke have emerged Men and Women singles champions of the 3rd Rainoil/Ikoyi Club 1938 Masters Tennis Championship. Imeh defeated Emmanuel Idoko 6-3, 6-4 while Adegoke retain the women’s title with a 6-1, 5-0 (rtd) scoreline over Ronke Akingbade. The winners each pocketed N250,000 while the finalists got N200, 000. The four […]
via Imeh, Adegoke Win Rainoil/Ikoyi Club Masters Tennis — newfanzoneblog
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.
Nigeria will slug it out with seven other African countries as the best junior tennis players across the continent converge in Rabat, Morocco for the Africa U14 Junior Tennis Masters.
Rising sensation, Oyinlomo Quadri and Micheal Oshewa will lead Nigeria’s challenge at the five-day event which will feature players from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Burundi, Egypt, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Nigeria. The draw for the event is scheduled for Tuesday.
Nigeria’s coach, Mohammed Ubale and Oshewa, left the Lagos airport in the early hours of Monday to team up with Quadri, who is on a year-long ITF scholarship in Morocco.
13-year-old Quadri has been one of the most consistent junior players in Africa a fact highlighted by her dominance of the West and Central African Circuits. The same could be said of Oshewa, 13, whose remarkable performance at the ITF Circuit in Nairobi, Kenya and the African Junior Tennis Championship in Tunisia this year surprised many.
“We stand a very good chance because the two players have been on top of their game throughout the year,” Oshewa has been under my watch and he is set to go and Oyin’s game must have appreciated since she moved to Morocco last month and I believe she will be under no pressure; she should feel at home,” Ubale said.
Ubale pointed that the incentives for players that distinguished themselves at the championship is too huge such that the nation’s representatives will not want to miss.
Nigeria’s best outing at the tournament was in 2012 when Candy Idoko proved to be the best rising talent in Africa by winning the Boy’s U14 title while Sarah Adegoke capped a remarkable outing for Nigeria by clinching the Girl’s title to put Nigeria on the front burner in African Junior tennis.
Stand-out performers at the event will be entitled to an ITF grant which will be used to feature in junior tournaments across the world.
Russian-born Melissa Ifidzhen continued her impressive outing at the 37th Central Bank of Nigeria Tennis Championship in Lagos by beating Beauty Mcleod to book her place in the women’s singles final where she will meet defending champions and top seed Christy Agugbom.
Ifidzhen, a debutante and a wild card beneficiary produced a scintillating performance and now has Agugbom, who was fortunate to qualify at the expense of Aanu Aiyegbusi Ayegbusi had played relatively tougher opponents in the women’s singles won the first set was forced to retire after an injury in the second set.
Melissa, who is scheduled to head to her hometown in Edo before jetting out to her base in Moscow on Wednesday, is hoping to go a step better than Elizabeth Garos-Pam who reached the women’s final last year where incidentally she lost to Agugbom.
In the men’s singles, defending champion, Abdulmimuni Babalola crashed to Moses Michael to set up a final match with Thomas Otu who defeated top seed, Clifford Enosoregbe.
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The final which comes up today at the National Stadium Surulere will be graced by top CBN officials as well as Nigeria Tennis Federation members headed by Engr. Sani Ndanusa.
The champions in the men and women singles will get N700, 000 while the finalists will pocket N500, 000.
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.
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.
Russian-Nigerian Melissa Ifidzhen made a winning debut playing in Nigeria as she eased past Henrietta Ogude 6-1, 6-1 to set up a second round clash with number two seed Sarah Adegoke as the 37th Central bank of Nigeria Open Senior Tennis Championship hots-up at the National Stadium, Lagos.
The 16-year-old made light work of her opponent hitting series of winners but admits she had to raise her game if she will have to go all the way.
“I’m happy I won because historically this is my first match in Nigeria. I hope to play better in my next game,” she said.
Standing between the former Russian U-12 champion and a place in the third round is Adegoke who brushed aside Ebere Fortune 6-1, 6-2. Adegoke, incidentally, is Melissa’s doubles partner and the pair was scheduled to complete their doubles match a tie-break decider against Christy Agugbom and Blessing Samuel on Tuesday evening.
Joining Ifidzhen and Adegoke in the second round is Aminat Quadri, who recovered from a set down to beat Christie Mbadiwe 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 while Afolarin Akosile also matches on following a 7-5, 6-2 winner over Ngozi Dirisu.
Other players that progressed to the second round of the women’s singles are Kelechi Njoku, Aanu Aiyegbusi, Omotayo Osewa and Agugbom who will meet Angel Mcleod, a fast-rising teenager in the second round.
In the men’s singles, Albert Bikom defeated Jonathan Okwudili 6-2, 7-5 to move to the second round just as Ikechukwu Iloputa made a strong finish to beat Emmanuel Paul after losing the first set. Iloputa won 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.
Emmanuel Sunday, Joseph Imeh and Mohammed Mohammed also advance after recoding wins on Tuesday.
After two days of qualifying rounds, the Main Draw of the 37th Central Bank of Nigeria Senior Open tennis Championship will get underway today with no fewer than 40 players listed for action.
Nigeria Tennis Federation Secretary General, Gloria Ekwepmu disclosed that the men are to compete in the round of 64 while the main draw for the ladies is 32.
There will also be a round of 32 for the men’s doubles while the ladies will compete in round of 16.
Ekwempu stated that everything is set for what would be a memorable championship featuring a high number of participants.
“As it has been the tradition, we got a very high number of entries and we are glad that the qualifying matches are almost completed, she said on Sunday afternoon,” she said.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s second-ranked female player Sarah Adegoke is confident she can go all the way to claim the top prize in the singles to help her reclaim her top ranking which she lost to Christy Agugbom late last year.
Adegoke fell to debutante Elizabeth Garos-Pam in the semifinal last year and Pam went on to lose to Agugbom which saw her rise considerably in the rankings.
“I’m in good shape and I’m looking forward to win the CBN tourney which has been my long-term dream,” she said.
The men and women’s champions will receive N700, 000 while finalists will get N500,000
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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