Dala: Shocker In Kano As Ogunjobi Upsets Number One Seed
Success Ogunjobi created an unprecedented upset in Kano when she defeated Anu Ayegbusi in the first round of the Dala Hard Court Tennis Championship.
Ogunjobi reached the Main Draw of the national tournament from the qualifying rounds and was in no mood to slow down she took on the Nigerian number one player in her opening match.
The Ekiti-born tennis youngster defeated the number one seed in two straight sets which ended 6-1, 6-0 and launch her into the quarterfinals of the Dala event.
Rebecca Ekpenyong also defeated Blessing Omotayo, the VEMP Open winner, in two straight sets of 6-2, 6-2 to advance to the next round of the tournament just as Mary Udoffa was a clear 6-3, 6-4 winner against Idowu Lagundoye on Tuesday.
READ ALSO: Finally! Lagos Set To Host Over 250 Tennis Lovers In Year-end Party
Omolayo Bamidele gave no chance to Timpire Maxwell, as she won her match 6-2, 6-1 while Qualifier Loveth Ogah fought hard to beat Stella Udokwelu in the final set to win 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(5) just as defending champion, Khadijat Mohammed made little her match against Favour Godwin with a 6-0, 6-0 win.
In the other matches, Favour Moses defeated Patience Onebamhoin 6-2, 6-4 while Blessing Otu could not make it past Puriniman Bajo as she fell to a 3-6, 2-6 defeat in the hands of the qualifier.
For the Men’s Singles, Henry Atseye began his title defence on a solid note, defeating Urenyang Nuhu 6-2, 6-2 just as number one seed, Uche Oparaoji sent Nonso Madueke parking with a 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 win while Ganiyu Mubarak defeated Timibra Godsgift 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Another Abuja-based player, Joseph Jimoh forced Usman Kushimo to retire in the second set after leading 6-1, 3-0, and the same situation repeated itself in the match between Prosperity Okonkwo and Chima Micheal. Michael was forced to retire at 1-4 in the first set.
Last year’s surprise package, David John, could not re-enact his form from last season as he fell to Ezekiel Azi in two straight but well-played sets. Azi won 6-3, 7-5. Also, Dahiru Mohammed, who played through the prelim, defeated Wild Card entrant Shuabi Ahmed 6-1, 6-2.
READ ALSO: Wimbledon: Coach Paul, Ndukwu, Aluko, Chang Invited To Train At All-England Club
The match between Mambilla Barracks boys Yahaya Sani Inabo and Oluwatobi Agboola ended in a win for Sani who took the match 6-2, 6-1 just as Canice Abua eased past Musa Sani with a 6-2, 6-2 win. Iloputa Ikechukwu also battled to defeat in-form youngster Lucky Danjuma 6-4, 4-6, 7-5.
Nigeria Tennis Live will keep monitoring all the actions happening in Kano and report all the updates to our teeming readers scattered across the globe.
Below is the order of play for matches scheduled for Wednesday, 20 November, 2024, as the Dala Hard Court Tennis Championship reaches its business end.
