J4 Cotonou: Marylove, Igbinovia, Jebutu Advance In Benin Republic

Nigeria’s junior tennis players participation at the J4 ITF tournament in Cotonou have made significant progress in their matches.

Marylove Edwards will be playing her third consecutive semifinal match in her third week on the road as she continues her impressive form in recent matches.

She defeated British-Nigerian Jadesola Cole in two hard fought sets of 6-2, 7-5 to set up a clash against Bohoussou Blanche Lili-belleMinet from Cote D’Ivoire.

The Nigerian number two seed will strive to go one step better than her outing last week, where she lost out in the semis of the J4 event in Lome, Togo.

Oiza Yakubu, the other Nigerian girl who made it to the quarterfinal, was no match for favourite and number one seed, Yichen Zhao. The Chinese won 6-0, 6-0.

Whatever the outcome of this match is, Edwards is likely to surpass her highest ever ranking spot on the Junior ITF Circuit.

Meanwhile, Wilson Igbinovia and Emmanuel Jebutu are gunning for two spots in the semis.

Igbinovia who is currently the highest ranked Nigerian junior tennis player is up against Ivorien Paterne Kouadio, and a win will take him further up the rankings, possibly into the world’s top 300.

Jebutu on the other hand, seems to have found his rythmn, as he seeks a semis berth for the second consecutive week.

The Nigerian, seeded five will tackle Israel’s Itay Bity who is the competition’s number four seed.

With these results, the Nigerian youngsters playing on the coast of West Africa will keep getting better and do even better against formidable opponents.

Nigeria Tennis Live will keep monitoring the activities of the players in Cotonou and report to our teeming audience scattered across the globe.