Nigeria Content Online

There were no surprises on Wednesday at the
ongoing National Tennis Open Championship in Port Harcourt as all the top seeds
advanced to the tournament’s third round.

On centre court, Sunday Emmanuel showed why he was the
tournament’s number one seed by defeating Onyeka Mbanu 7-5, 6-3, while former
Nigeria number one Sunday Maku was able to win his game by beating Kehinde
Alabi.

Abdulmumini Babalola also cruised to the third round along with
Clifford Enosoregbe who progressed after his opponent Amidu Abdullahi failed to
recover from an injury he had sustained during the course of the game.

Enosoregbe was ahead 6-4, 4-1 at the time.

In another game decided in the men’s singles event, Aliyu Umar
defeated Taiwo Owolabi in straight sets 6-2, 6-1 to advance to the third round.

In the women’s singles event, Fatima Abinu remained in the race
for the women’s title after seeing off the challenge of Christy Mbadinwe 7-5,
6-2, just as Anu Ayegbusi also easily disposed of Amina Quadri in an encounter
that ended 6-4, 6-1.

Blessing Anuna also progressed to the next round after her
opponent, Deola Akewula, withdrew due to cramps, while Blessing Samuel also
cruised to the third round after beating Sade Ogunsola 6-0, 3-6, 6-0.

Doubles underway

In the men’s doubles event, which got underway on Wednesday, top
seeds Emmanuel and Babalola easily ended the tournament aspirations of the
doubles pair of Vincent Itodo and Yenjo Sunday 6-1, 6-1.

It was, however, tougher for the duo of Sani Adamu and Henry
Atseye who came from a set down to defeat the hard-fighting duo of Samuel Jonah
and Bala Musa in an encounter that ended 4-6, 6-4, 10-7.

The pair of Taiwo Owolabi and Ganiyu Salami also came from a set
down to advance to the next round of the men’s doubles event, defeating the
partnership of Amidu Abdullahi and Rah 3-6, 6-3, 10-3.

In the women’s doubles event, the pair of Samuel and Christy
Abugnom made quick work of the duo of Ngozi Dirisu and Evelyn Enuwah 6-0, 6-0,
while Chidinma Abbah and Mbadinwe also easily saw off the pair of Odunayo
Boluwaduro and Akosile Folarin in an encounter that also ended 6-0, 6-0.

Magret Olagundoye and Nosa Esorae also saw off Quadri and her
doubles partner Kelechi Njoku 6-0, 6-2 to progress to the next round.

The tournament continues today with third round
matches in both the men’s and women’s singles events, as well as second round
games in the men’s and women’s doubles category.