Abayomi Philip’s defeat of former national champion, Uche Oparaoji was arguably the biggest result on day four of the ongoing Rainoil National Tennis Open in Lagos.
Philip, a former top national junior player, appeared to be battle ready against the tournament’s number two seed despite losing the first set 3-6.
It was the second set that proved to be decisive as he stunned his opponent to take a hard fought 7-5 win and take the match to a final set decider.
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Having already won the second set, Philip who trains at the Mainland Tennis Club in Lagos, was more invigorated in the ensuing final set and rightly defeated Oparaoji 6-3 as his supporters broke into a loud cheer on the sidelines.
For a spot in the semis, he will have to defeat fellow Mainlander, Matthew Abamu, in their quarterfinal match on Friday, 7 February, 2025.
Meanwhile, Christopher Bulus, alongside his other teammates at the 2025 Davis Cup World Group II Playoffs in South Africa, moved swiftly into the quarterfinals of the Rainoil event.
Bulus, the tournament’s number one seed, defeated power playing Endurance Ehigiamusoe 6-2, 6-1; Canice Abua routed Lucky Danjuma 6-2, 6-4 while Michael Emmanuel bested Yusuf Abubakar 6-2, 6-2.
In the Women’s Singles event, Etoro Bassey of the GEUF Tennis Academy in Akwa-Ibom, forced top seed, Omolayo Bamidele, to retire after taking the first set 6-3, and was leading 4-0 in the second.
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Abuja-based Success Ogunjobi also got the better of ageing Stella Udokwelu in two entertaining sets. She won 6-4, 6-2 to set up a quarterfinal clash against Bassey.
Number one seed and Nigeria’s number one female tennis player, Khadijat Mohammed, defeated Destiny Okhinaye 6-0, 7-6(1) to book her spot in the quarterfinal where she takes on Patience Onebamhoin.
Onebamhoin, a senior tennis player, was on fire in her second round match against Khadijat Salami where she won 6-2, 6-2 to continue her impressive run at the ongoing competition.
The quarterfinal matches are expected to serve off by 9am on Friday, inside the tennis section of the Ikoyi Club, Lagos.