Babalola, Amadin advance to second round

CBN Open Tennis Championship: Nigeria's top player, Abdulmumini Babalola, who is also tournament's number one seed, yesterday defeated Olaniyi Ibiwoye to advance to the second round of the on-going CBN Open Tennis Championship taking place at the tennis courts of the National Stadium, Lagos.

Playing on the centre court of the stadium, Babalola, who is using the championship to prepare for the forthcoming Davis Cup tie against Ukraine and the All Africa Games scheduled for Algeria, needed all the reservoir of energy and experience to overcome stubborn Ibiwoye in two straight sets of 6-0, 6-0.

Although Babalola won in two straight sets, Ibiwoye's resilience and determination drew applause from the sparse crowd, who saw in him the qualities of a future star. For his victory, Babalola will now face the winner of the match between Albert Bikom and Michael Anthony,which was still going on as at the time of filing this report.

In the female category, top seeded Osaro Amadin had an easy ride over Ngozi Dirisu, whom she beat 6-0, 6-0, just as Seun Ogundare decisioned Beauty Oghenekewe 6-2, 7-5. Amadin and Ogundare will now meet in the second round.

Omotayo Ibrahim beat Lillian Amadin 6-1, 6-1 to set up a second battle with Patience Onebanhion, who defeated Osariemen Airhumuwunde 6-4, 7-5.

Another female top star, Blessing Anuna, defeated Sarah Gbadamosi in two straight sets of 6-3, 6-2 to book a second round ticket, which will pitch her against Nosa Esorae, who outvolleyed Chuka Abaa 6-3, 6-2.

One of the wildcard in the championship, Lolia Kienka, had an easy run into the second round as she dusted Abuja-based Uju Ben 6-1, 6-1. Kienka, who had to wait for minutes before her opponent showed up, did not waste time in dismissing Ben in a one-sided game watched by her mum and brother,Kalada Though, Ben showed some promise in the early part of the game, her efforts could not match Kienka’s superb strokes as she began to gasp for breath towards the end of the game. [[photo alt="Nneka Okoro" align=left]nneka2[/photo]
Meanwhile, one of the men's top seeds in the competition, Henry Atseye, has vowed to surpass his previous record of always losing in the quarter-final of the one-week championship. Atseye said: "I am targeting the final and I must get there. The only person that stands between me and the final is Shehu Lawal, who beat me last year in the quarter-final."

The West Africa Junior Champion, however, commended the organisers for upping the prize money, saying this would encourage the players to give their best.