Mohammed, Ogunjobi Shine As TPPA-UTR Nationals Serve Off In Lagos

Khadijat Mohammed, one of Nigeria’s best youngsters, started her campaign at the TPPA-UTR National Junior Tennis Classics on a resounding note.

The Abuja-based tennis youngster who got a Wild Card to participate in the event, defeated Sunmisola Okajare from Lagos 6-1, 6-3 to set the tone in the Youth category round robin matches.

Ekiti State’s Success Ogunjobi also did a good job in her match against Imole Afolabi of Oyo State, winning 6-3, 6-2 just as another Ekiti player, Jesutoyosi Adeusi, beat Oyinkansola Samuel from Lagos 6-0, 6-1.

Bright Emmanuel (Lagos), one of Nigeria’s impressive juniors, fought hard to win her match against Faith Adeusi from Ekiti State. The three-set thriller ended 3-6, 6-0, 10-3 in favour of the Apapa Tennis Club player.

Another Apapa Tennis Club player who ensured a stellar first day at the UTR competition, Jeremiah Benjamin, was the better player when he faced fellow Lagos player, Ayomiposi Agboola, winning 6-4, 6-3.

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Benjamin, who was a winner at the Coach Ohans Memorial tournament in Lagos, also played his second round robin match on Monday, winning 6-0, 5-7, 10-2 against Oyo’s Damilare Awe in a battle of the fitted.

Basit Ajao from the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club was left home and dry by Abuja-based Yahaya Sani Inabo as the Mambilla Barracks Tennis Club player defeated him in two straight sets of 6-2, 7-5.

The second Mambilla Barracks Tennis Club player, Abubakar Yusuf, who won his match against Fortune Joseph from Lagos, was made to fight and suffer for every single point on the centre court of the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja, venue of the event.

Yusuf, the tournament’s number one seed, whose match against homeboy Joseph was the longest match of the day, ended 6-7, 7-6 12-10 as he limped off with a knock.

Gbolahan Oladipupo (Lagos) who played two matches on the day, first got the better of Sultan Yusuf and Israel Taiwo. He defeated the Lagos boys 6-1, 6-2; 6-2, 6-2.

The only other age category played on the first day was the Boys U-14 and it was not short of exciting matches and results.

Afaraman He-man and Yahaya Isa both from Lagos, held the centre court audience at the UTR event spell-bound with their end to end performance.

Isa won the first set in what looked like a stroll in the park for him, but He-man, who looked frustrated for most part of the first set, changed his shoes and got into top gear to win the second set to a lousy applause from the spectators.

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In the ensuing match tie-break, Isa, who looked dejected after letting the lead slip from his hands, atoned for his initial misses and wrapped up the game. The match ended 6-3, 7-6, 10-7 in favour of Isa.

Homeboy Nathaniel Aluko defeated Damilola Agunbiade from Cross River 6-2, 6-4, while Lagos boy Gabriel Igbinovia was the better player when he took on Michael Folaranmi from Osun State. He won 2-6, 6-4, 10-3.

Ekiti State’s Seyi Ogunsakin who is one of the top players at the tournament, was emphatic with his 6-1, 6-2 win against Sharon Danjuma (Abuja).

Matches will continue on day two of the TPPA-UTR National Junior Tennis Classics on Tuesday, 9 April, 2024 inside the tennis section of the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja.

Nigeria Tennis Live will keep all our readers and followers updated with results and action from the competition which is the climax of the regionals.