Zenith Bank Next Gen: Bassey, Ajao, Others Slide Into Semis
Etoro Bassey is among the top juniors to have secured their sports in the semis of the ongoing Zenith Bank Next Generation Masters event in Lagos.
The GEUF Tennis Academy of Akwa-Ibom player confirmed her place in the semis after seeing off Mary Udoffa, another talented Nigerian junior player in two tiebreak sets of 10-8, 10-5.
Bassey is joined in the semis by Abuja-based Success Ogunjobi, who also defeated Ondo State’s Idowu Olagundoye in two sets. 10-6, 10-5 it ended in favour of Ogunjobi.
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In the boys’ category, Lagos boy, Basit Ajao, was made to fight for his points when he was up against Chukwudubem Amasiani from Abuja, in what was a promising match for the latter.
Amasiani had lost the first tiebreak set 8-10, but pulled himself to take a 6-0 lead in the second set of the encounter.
Ajao’s experience, however, came to bear as he pushed his opponent back and avoid what could have been a great upset at the tournament. He won 10-7 in the second set.
Joseph Franklin Jimoh, another player who guaranteed his spot in the semis of the Zenith Bank Next Generation championship, survived a scare by young Seyi Ogunsakin, but won the game 11-9, 10-3.
In the other match, Henry Aina played what could be the match of his life against John Peter Oche, saving six match points in the final set to win the tie 10-2, 6-10, 11-9.
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Meanwhile, in the FE & P (First Exploration and Production) company Invitational tournament for the 12 and 14 & Unders, Lagos-based Mofifunoluwa Atilola continued her giant strides, as she kept blowing her opponents away.
In the tough match she played against Favour James, the national U-12 champion came from behind to take the day against her more experienced opponent.
Atilola won 8-10, 14-12, 10-4 in what was a mouth-watering encounter inside the tennis section of the Ikoyi Club 1938 on Thursday afternoon.
Also, Joel Michael who just returned from a three-month training tour of the United States, showed why he remains one of the talented juniors from this part of the country.
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He came up against Wisdom Effiong from Akwa-Ibom, and even though he showed traces of his brilliance, he was no match for his more outstanding opponent who win in the final set of their encounter.
The match ended 10-6, 5-10, 10-5 in favour of the GEUF Tennis Academy player and set the tone for what will be an interesting end to the round robin games as Mohammed Okandeji also beat Excellency Oginibia from Bayelsa 10-6, 11-9.
Action will resume at the Zenith Bank Next Generation Masters event on Friday, 9 August, 2024, as the competition zooms further towards the concluding stages.
Nigeria Tennis Live will keep our readers abreast of information concerning the competition targeted at raising future champions for Nigeria.
