ITF/CAT Juniors: Osewa win, Abamu qualifies

Nigeria’s Michael Osewa bounced back from an opening day defeat with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Keean Shah of Kenya to keep alive the hope of having a favourable draw in the knock out stage of the 2017 CAT/ITF African Junior Tennis Championship taking place at the Benoni Country Club, Johannesburg, South Africa.

The 12th seeded Nigerian lost his first match on Monday against third seed, Soufiane El Mesbahi of Morocco but bounced back to reckoning with a win over his East African opponent. The win has now guaranteed him a place in the next stage with the chance of getting a fair draw.

Mathew Abamu also kept his good form that saw him triumphed in his opening match on Monday against Algeria’s Lebdi Forkane as he coasted to a 6-2, 6-2 win over Taona Mhwandagara of Zimbabwe to also progress to the knockout stage.

The win against the Zimbabwean, who is the number 16 seed, sealed Abamu’s place in the boys’ 14 and under leaving Mhwandagara and Forkane to battle for the last qualification ticket in Box 8.

“It was a bit easy for me compared to my first game. I still have to play a bit better if I have to go far because there are many good players in my category,” Abamu submitted.

A day of mixed fortune for Nigeria saw Michael Ayoola and David Dawariye succumbed to defeats in their matches.

Ayoola from the Aces Tennis Club in Lagos fell 6-1, 6-1 to top seed, Youcef Rihane of Algeria in the boy’s 16 and under just as Dawariye of the Kodian Tennis Foundation, Port Harcourt, stumbled 5-7, 3-6 to Hamid Koumane of Cote d’Ivoire in the boys’ 14 and under on his debut match at the championship.

With both players in a group consisting three players, they are sure of advancing to the next stage but will be facing much tougher opponents when the draws for the knock out stage is made after the conclusion of preliminary matches today.

Marylove Edward was the only Nigerian off duty yesterday and the third seed will keep a date with Coumba Niangadou of Burkina Faso today.