Lagos Open: 4 Nigerians qualify for main draws
Four Nigerian players have qualified to play in the Main Draws of the second leg of 2019 Lagos Open Tennis Championship.
The second leg of the ITF World Tour served off Tuesday after the conclusion of matches of the first leg on Monday at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.
In the qualifying matches decided on Tuesday, Nigerian Godgift Timibra defeated Ghanaian Andrew Adu Appiah in straight sets of 6-1,6-3 in the men’s event, while Paul Emmanuel beat compatriot Tochukwu Emmanuel Ezeh in another straight sets of 6-4,7-5.
Gabriel Friday could not complete his match against Sylvester Emmanuel, as he retired when the result was 6-1.
In the women qualifying games, Ronke Akingbade reached the Main Draws at the expense of Ozi-Oiza Josephine Yakubu in a game that ended 7-6(1),6-1.
However, local players such as Patience Onebamhoni, Aanu Aiyegbusi, Sabath Ibrahim, Sarah Adegoke, Omolade Aderemi, Amala Nwokolo, Rachel Olamide Adunoye, Albert Bisong Bikom and Wilson Oswalele Igbinovia all lost their qualifying matches on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Main Draws of the second leg will begin on Wednesday with matches of the first round starting from 9:30am.
France’s Camry Hemery and Sada Nahimana from Burundi who won the first legs men and women's singles respectively will have their hands full as other players will be out to stop their ambition of winning the Lagos Open Tennis back-to-back when the hostilities start today.