Enosoregbe, Oto begin chase for Dayak ITF Futures glory

@shagcy Nigerians will begin their chase for a memorable outing at the second Dayak Championship Nigeria F2 Futures as four of the country’s players in the main draw file out for action today.

The home players failed to match their foreign counterparts last week, with two out of the countries seven player managing a second round outing at the Tombim Open.

In one of the matches, Nigeria’s Clifford Enosoregbe and Pole Mateusz Smolicki are expected to produce fireworks in the Centre Court match at the Abuja National Stadium.

Enosoregbe made the second round at last week’s Tombim Open and he is keen to match his outing while Smolicki is also eyeing an improve performance from last week where he was knocked out in the first round. The match that follows will see Thomas Otu and Christian Paul battling it out for a second round ticket in an all-Nigeria tie while Sylvester Emmanuel faces American Aron Pierce in the next match on Centre Court.

There will also be lots of attention on top seed Calvin Hemery as he opens his quest for glory with an encounter with Christopher DiazFigueroa of Guatemala.

The French-Nigerian is expected to be among the star performers in the Nigeria F2 Futures tournament which is coming on the heels of his triumph at the USA F15 barely a week ago in Florida.

Monday’s matches saw Tunisian Moez Echargui bagged the only upset of day with a 6-3, 7-6 (2) win over sixth seed, Benjamin Lock of Zimbabwe as all the four other seeded players in action for the day navigated their way to the second round.

Third seeded Alessandro Bega of Italy eased past Karim Hossam of Egypt 6-3, 6-0 while Spaniard Hugo Lago came from a set down to edge Felix Hounkpevi of Benin. Serbian fourth seed, Pedja Krstin had to be at his best to beat Indian Haadin Bava 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 while Takanyi Garaganga of Zimbabwe, cruised to a 6-0, 6-2 win over Pablo Schelcher Muro of Spain.

Ivan Marrero Curbelo of Spain also went through as he was leading 4-1 against Australian Mark Verryth who retired due to illness while Frenchman Thomas Setodji edged Adrian Andrzejczuk 6-1, 4-6, 6-4.

Canadian second seed, Brayden Schnur, who won the Tombim Open on Saturday keeps a date with Anvit Bendre of India just as fifth seed, Sasi Kumar Mukund of India confronts Jose Azorin of Spain.

Brazilians Fabiano De Paula and Fernando Romboli, who won the doubles title last week and are also on course to defend their title following their first round win over Briton Joe Cooper and Matt Seeberger of the USA on Monday, will face each other in one of the top clashes of the day.

Hemery and Sylvester are also through to the next round in the doubles as they walked over Spaniard Hugo Lago and Aussie Mark Verryth.