SPORTS
CBN Tennis Open: Top seeds Edwards and Okparaoji advance
Top seeds in both the male and female categories of the 2023 CBN Senior Open Tennis Championships on Tuesday in Abuja booked their places in the competition’s next stage.
Uche Okparaoji progressed after defeating Endurance Ehigiamuso in the men’s round of 16 while Marylove Edwards booked her place with a 6-3 6-1 win over Ronke Akingbade.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the competition which is in its 45th edition began with the knockout phase on Monday and will end on Saturday.
The round of 32 matches were completed on Tuesday with Basit Ajao beating Michael Nekepeme 7-6(8) 6-0 and Henry Atseye defeating Walid Lawal 6-3 6-2 in the remaining men’s matches.
The women’s round of 32 matches on Tuesday saw Rachel Adunoye winning 6-4 6-3 against Mariam Salami, and Favour Moses coming from a set down to beat Esther Olamide 3-6 6-0 6-1.
In other results in the men’s round of 16, Sylvanus Ajang moved to the next stage after beating Isaac Attah 7-6(3) 6-2, while Peter Lawal cruised past Taofeek Mogaji 6-0 6-1.
Peter John was defeated by Musa Bala 6-2 6-4, while Emmanuel Jebutu knocked out Daniel Adeleye 6-4 6-2.
David Ekpenyong dominated in a 6-0 6-1 win over Ridwan Morakinyo.
In the women’s category, Blessing Otu lost 1-6 2-6 to Khadijat Mohammed, while Omotayo Blessing beat Ogah Loveth 6-0 6-4.
Blessing Anuna beat Omolayo Bamidele 7-6(5) 6-4 to join Patricia Onebamhoin who defeated Mary Udofia 6-4 6-2 in the next stage of the championship.
Rebecca Ekpenyong came from a set down to defeat Oiza Yakubu 4-6 6-4 6-0 while Stella Udokwelu made defeating Oluchi Ozurumba look easy in a 6-0 6-1 win.
Blessing Samuel cruised past Timipre Maxwell 6-0 6-0.
In the doubles, the Hozzendoff/Paul pair knocked out the Iorlumum/Tomizaye pair 5-4(8) 5-3.