Damilare Okunola/ Kano
Naija Tennis Special can report that the ongoing Dala Hard Court Championship in Kano recorded its first major upset on Tuesday, when top seed, Sanni Adamu, was defeated in two straight sets of 6-4,6-3 by Joseph Imeh.
Adamu, who is Nigeria’s highest ranked player on the ATP, fell like a pack of cards and was a shadow of himself as he lost to Imeh, who started the tourney from the qualifiers.
A disappointed Adamu told Naija Tennis Special after his match that he lost because he did not play well and congratulated his opponent.
He however promised to improve as he continues the tournament in the doubles event where he will play in the quarter finals tomorrow.
“I lost because I did not play well. My opponent deserved to win, so I congratulate him. I will try to work harder in the doubles where I’ll be playing in the quarter final with Henry Atseye” he offered.
In a related development, petite male tennis player, Sunday Emmanuel, trounced another seeded player, Thomas Out, 4-6,6-3,6-2, to continue from where he stopped at the Central Bank of Nigeria Open, CBM Open earlier this year.
Out, who was anonymous at the Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship, put up a rather disappointing display against the unrecognised rookie and was made to pay for his casual displays.
Draws for the second round matches will be made later today as the tournament gets into the money-spinning stages.