David Ekpenyong started his title defence at the DavNotch National Tennis Championship on a positive after his opponent pulled out of the game in the first set.
Ekpenyong, winner of the 2023 edition of the event, was up against Michael Chima in the first round of the tournament and was 3-2 up in the game before his opponent retired.
The match consequently ended and he moved to the next round of the tournament in the draw of 32 players.
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Uche Oparaoji, the tournament’s number three seed, had a comfortable 6-0, 6-1 win over unseeded Yahuza Bello while Usman Kushimo had one of the biggest wins on the day as well.
The Ogun State player came up against Nonso Madueke, one of the most experienced players in the championship and made sure he forced his opponent to retire in the final set. The match ended 6-7(2), 7-5, 5-3(rtd).
Unseeded Daniel Adeleye made no issue defeating number six seed, Godsgift Timibra, in two straight sets that ended 6-1, 6-2 as another seeded player, Canice Abua also won 6-1, 6-2 against Sani Musa.
In the Women’s Singles event, VEMP Open winner, Blessing Omotayo, continued her fine form from the first leg and rightly beat her opponent, Blessing Otu, 6-2, 6-3 just as Omolayo Bamidele, the tournament’s number five seed, got past Temitope Fashanu 6-4, 6-0.
Experienced players like Patience Onebamhion and Blessing Anuna also recorded first round wins in their matches as they advanced to the second round of the DavNotch championship.
Onebamhion defeated Loveth Ogar 6-4, 6-2 while Anuna bested Khadijat Salami in a final set encounter which ended 3-6, 6-4, 6-1.
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Stella Udokwelu, the competition’s number four seed also outplayed emerging youngster, Success Ogunjobi 6-4, 6-2 just as Khadijat Mohammed, the number two seed, beat Mary Udoffa 6-4, 6-1. Destiny Okhinaye also had a good day in office, winning 6-2, 7-5 against Mary Godwin.
Results from other matches from the first day of the week-long DavNotch Tennis Championship are also as listed below as the matches continue on Tuesday, 26 May, 2024.
Nigeria Tennis Live will keep all our readers and followers up to date on activities from the tournament as they unfold.
