Emmanuel, Hemery reach Dayak Tennis doubles’ final

N@shagcy

igeria’s Sylvester Emmanuel and Frenchman Calvin Hemery continued their heroic in the doubles event of the Dayak Championship Nigeria F2 Futures with a 7-6 (4), 6-4 win over Indians Haadin Bava and Anvit Bendre to qualify for the final where they will face Italian Alessandro Bega and Norwegian Viktor Durasovic.

Both were unseeded for the doubles but they sent packing top seed Brazilian duo of Fernando Romboli and Fabiano De Paula, who had won the title last week.

In the singles, top seed Calvin Hemery remains on course to land his first title in Nigeria as he posted a 6-2, 6-3 win over fifth-seed, Sasi Kumar Mukun of India in 51 minutes to reach the semifinals of the tournament scheduled to end Saturday.

The world no 294 Hemery, born of Nigerian dad and French mum, was a finalist as the second week of the 2016 Governor’s Cup Lagos Nigeria F6 Futures and is just two victories away from adding another Futures title to his credential after winning the USA F15 Futures in Florida less than a fortnight ago.

Thursday’s other quarterfinal matches saw Canadian Brayden Schnur, Serbian Pedja Krstin and Brazilian Fernando Romboli- respectively second, fourth and eighth seeds - came out victorious.

Krstin overcame Norwegian Durasovic 6-4, 7-6 (5) while Romboli came from a set down to beat third-seeded Bega 3-6, 6-4, 6-3; but it was Schnur, who emerged the biggest winner among the semi-finalists as his opponent, Zimbabwean Takanyi Garaganga scratched due to injury.

Schnur triumphed in their semifinal clash last week before going ahead to win the tournament but the Canadian was facing a match point at 30-40 (3-5) after Garaganaga had took the first set 6-4. However, a delicate drop-shot from the world no 304 Schnur, led to the seventh seed injuring his left leg as he stretched for a drop shot. Worse still is the fact that he missed the said shot which dropped off the net.

Fortune was almost smiling on the African as he had another match point after the deuce but Schnur took his chance taking the score to 5-4. Garaganga’s damaged leg could not be managed as he served four consecutive double faults before quitting as emotion runs high among the fans who were rooting for him.

Friday’s matches will see Hemery battles Romboli and Schnur takes on Krstin.