The first day of the 2018 Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Tennis Open already produced an unprecedented upset in one of the Women’s Singles matches.
Nigerian Tennis Live gathered that unseeded Rose Onoja Abu sent top female tennis star, Loveth Donatus, packing in their first round match, in three amazing sets.
Abu, an Abuja-based tennis player left no one in doubt of her ability when the match started as she stormed to a 6-2 lead in the first set, but the experience of Donatus came to play and the Port-Harcourt based player won the second by 6-3.
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| Rose Abu in action during her match against Loveth Donatus. She won 6-2, 3-6, 6-1. Photo credit: Ewaoche Ameh. |
But Rose, who sometimes officiates matches, bounced back in the final set, winning 6-1, to the shock of the spectators in Abuja for the 40th edition of the tournament.
Donatus was not the only one to suffer an upset on the first day of the tournament as Bukola Olowu, another top seed, was bundled out in two straight sets by Mary Temu-Michael, who made it to the main draws via the qualifying series. The match ended 6-4, 6-1.
Other top female players (except Blessing Samuel who struggled before beating Omotayo Osewa 7-6 (6), 6-4) who were in action won their matches convincingly, to allay any fear about another upset in the tournament.
The likes of number one female player, Sarah Adegoke, Aanu Ayegbusi, Patience Onebamhoin all won their matches in two sets.
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| Ageless Abdulmumin Babalola won his opening match at the CBN Senior Tennis Open competition. Can he defend the title? Photo: Ewaoche Ameh. |
In the male category, it was business as usual for the guys, as all the top ranked players made sure of victory in their opening matches, there were also no upsets in the matches that were played on Monday, 25 June.
Nigerian Tennis Live will keep tabs on the performances of the players in Abuja and report to our teeming audience.