Marylove Edwards has finally won her first senior national tournament after defeating Aanu Aiyegbusi to clinch her first ever Dala Hard Court event.
Marylove, who played Sarah Adegoke, and lost in the 2017 Women’s Singles final of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Open, is now finally a national champion.
The 16-year-old former US-based tennis teenage sensation won the final in two sets of 6-2, 6-2 and could finally heave a sigh of relief inside the tennis court at the event in Kano.
It may have been an unprecedented result for Marylove as many tennis enthusiasts may have rooted for Aiyegbusi to clinch the elusive title, but the youngster came to the ‘party’ better prepared.
Nigerians will be extremely excited for the former National Junior Champion, who also recently became the highest ranked female junior tennis player in Nigeria.
In the Men’s Singles, Wilson Igbinovia schooled Peter Lawal to qualify for his first senior final ever. He won in two sets of 6-4, 6-3.
Like Marylove, Igbinovia will be expected to defeat current number one and national champion, Joseph Imeh, in the finale.
Imeh himself saw off Uche Oparaoji to land in the final. He won 6-0, rtd.
The former CBN Open winner also partnered Albert Bikom to squeeze out a 6-2, 4-6, 11-9 victory over Abdulmumuni Babalola and Shehu Lawal in the Men’s Doubles final.
All eyes will be on Igbinovia against Imeh on Saturday, as the competition climaxes ahead of the VEMP Open which serves off with its Main Draw on Monday, 8 November.
Nigeria Tennis Live will report the details of the finals to our teeming audience scattered across the globe.