Youngster Emmanuel Jebutu was one of Nigeria’s most outstanding players on the first day of the ongoing Lagos Open International Tennis Championship, Nigeria Tennis Live can authoritatively report.
The Nigerian junior tennis star who played against an Indian, Bhanu Suthar, was extremely confident during the match which did not last long, thrashing his opponent 6-1, 6-0, a feat which he has never achieved even in national competitions.
After the match, an elated Jebutu told Nigeria Tennis Live that it was one match which he never expected to win that easily, but he drew conclusions when he hit the balls against the Indian ahead of their encounter.
According to him, the tournaments he had played in prior to the commencement of the competition helped him gain match fitness and he hopes to continue with the fine form as the competition progresses.
Sylvester Emmanuel, Nigeria’s number one male player, struggled for most part of the match against Godsgift Timibra.
“I did not believe I could give somebody 6-1, 6-0 in a tournament of this magnitude, even though it’s a qualifying match.
“To beat an Indian in my first ever match in the Lagos Open is something I’ll love to cherish.
“I’ll now focus on the second round of the qualifiers and hope to go even better in the next phase,” Jebutu explained.
Nigeria’s number one male player, Sylvester Emmanuel, in his own match, struggled against youngster Godsgift Timibra, even though the result of the match proved otherwise.
Emmanuel, who won the last national tournament in Nigeria, blew a 5-0 lead against the youngster before rallying to a 6-3 win in the first set.
And even though he eventually won the match in the second set with a 6-1 defeat of Timibra, it was not without all sorts of struggle during the encounter.
Nigeria Tennis Live will keep monitoring action from the two-week long competition where Nigerians will hustle to hold their own against their foreign counterparts.