CBN Tennis: Sylvester, Babalola advance to next round

Last year’s runners-up of the men’s singles event of the Central Bank of Nigeria annual Senior Tennis Tournament, Emmaunel Sylvester, who has vowed to win this year’s tournament, started well in this year’s tourney when he defeated Ogbu Richard 6-0, 6-1 to advance to the next round of the competition.

While five- time champion, Abdulmumuni Babalola who had on Sunday defeated Destiny Da-Silva in the athletes representative election for the Tennis Executive Board membership, made it a double victory for himself by beating Ismaila Adesina 6-1, 1-0 (retired) to cruise into the next round.

Former three-time champion, Sunday Maku proved too hot to be handled by beating wild card entrant, Itodo Christopher, in two straight sets of 6-2, 6-2 to also book second round ticket.

Also victorious is Odeyemi Opeyemi that had a 6-3, 6-1 win over Sikiru Ismaila, while Imeh Joseph dismissed Bala Musa 6-3, 6-2 in another two straight sets victory.

Hard fighting Clifford Enosoregbe also made it to the next round when he relied on experience to beat Wale Babalola 2-1 (6-1, 5-1,6-1), even as old war-horse, Shehu Lawal wasted no time in dismissing Ebuka Ezewoke by 6-2, 6-3.

Matches were also played in the women singles as well as the Men’s and Women’s doubles categories.

In one of the matches, Ngozi Dirisu who came through the qualifiers defeated Faith Christopher 6-3, 7-5 to play herself into the women’s singles Round of 16 where she is already waiting to face the winner of the match involving Omolayo Bamidele and Stella Udokwelu.

Meanwhile, action will continue today at both the tennis courts of the National Stadium and the Nigeria Ports Authority Ground, Bode Thomas, Surulere, Lagos for the Day 2 events.

According to some of the pairings, Shehu Lawal will face Isaac Attah, while Babalola engages junior player, Michael Osewa who came through wild card.