AJC 2018: Oyinlomo Shakes Off Injury Scare, Beats Egyptian Silly To Berth In Semis

Nigeria’s Oyinlomo Quadri continued her fairytale run at the ongoing ITF/CAT African Junior Championship 16 and Under in Tunis, Tunisia with a 6-1 6-2 win over Ramadan Hagar of Egypt on Thursday to advance to the semifinal.

Nigerian Tennis Live reports that the 14-year-old Quadri, who shook off an early injury scare, is showing the kind of form that saw her record an unprecedented treble of ITF Circuit wins in 2016.

Recall that the outstanding Nigerian player upturned a 5-0 first set deficit to upset tournament’s number eight seed Auertin Sarra of Tunisia in the second round triumphing 7-5, 6-3 on Wednesday even as she began the week-long tournament with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Algeria’s Boukholda Houria.

Is she good for the final?

Speaking after the 58-minute long tie, the sweet Nigerian youngster said: “It was a good match. I was on top of my game and that is why the score was straightforward but it was not an easy match.”

Salma Loudili of Morocco will be standing between Quadri and the final of the tournament featuring about 50 players from 18 countries and the Nigerian is optimistic of scaling the hurdle of yet another North African opponent.

But the Nigerian star player seems unperturbed although she remains wary of the threat posed by her opponent.

She noted: “The Moroccan girl is a good player; we used to be together at the ITF Centre in Morocco. I have played her twice at local tournaments in Morocco and I won on both occasions.

“I have to be focused because she is playing very well as well but I know I’m better so I’m looking forward to win her.”

Nigeria’s coach Mohammed Ubale lauded Quadri’s display stressing she was cramping hours before the match and had to get medical attention.

“She has done very well. She was cramping and had to see the physiotherapist. Remember all the players she had beaten are clay-court players while her own favourite is the hard court,” Ubale explained.