Babalola, Lawal Advance To Second Round

Abdulmumuni Babalola and Shehu Lawal recorded wins yesterday as most of the seeded players progressed in the ongoing Dala Hard Court Tennis Championship in Kano.

Reigning CBN Open champion, Babalola, who crashed out at the first round of the NPA Championship in Abuja last week, made sure thunder doesn’t strike him twice as he trounced Jonah Samuel 6-2, 6-1 just as Lawal was made to sweat harder before recording a come-from-behind 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Hamidu Abdulahi.

Both players who at a point placed a stranglehold on domestic scene by claiming series of national titles were joined by Nigeria’s no1 ranked player, Clifford Enosoregbe.

The newly-crowned NPA Open champion had a tough time battling Albert Bikom and it was unsurprising that the game was decided by a rubber with Enosoregbe winning 7-5, 5-7, 6-1.

Henry Atseye’s poor physical condition costs him as he retired against Sunday Emmanuel with scores at 2-0 in the opening set while Onyeka Mbanu edged Jinadu Owolabi 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4) in the most exciting match of the day.

Other players that progressed to the second round are Monday Igbinovia, a 6-1, 6-3 winner against Jonathan Okwudili; Chinedu Akagha who defeated Mohammed Mohammed 6-2, 7-5 and Emmanuel Idoko who got the better of his contest with Pekun Akingbade 6-0, 6-7, 6-4.

In the women’s singles, Ronke Akingbade advanced to the next stage by beating Pauline Ebijimi 6-1, 6-4 and she is joined by Patience Onebamhoin who forced Bukola Olowu to retire while leading 3-0 in the first set.