After a rain-soaked couple of days, the main draw of the Lagos Open finally served off on Wednesday with Nigeria’s contingent of Oyinlomo Quadre, Blessing Solomon, Joseph Imeh and Emmanuel Idoko all progressing to the second round.
Meanwhile, South African qualifier Isabella Kruger sent shockwaves reverberating
Quadre,16, wasted little time on court as she lost just two games in a speedy 6-0,6-2 defeat of compatriot Patience Onebamhoin.
She plays No. 5 seed, Riya Bhatia of India, who handed Oiza Yakubu a double bagel next in the second round.
Nigeria’s top-ranked player, Blessing Samuel advanced to the second round at the expense of compatriot Aanu Aiyegbusi who fell 6-3, 6-4. Samuel faces a daunting task against 2nd seed, Sandra Samir of Egypt, who went past Indian qualifier, Peddi Reddy 6-2, 6-3.
In other matches in the women’s draw, Sarah Adegoke lost 6-0, 7-5 to Serbia’s Tamara Curovic, Omolade Aderemi suffered a crushing 6-1, 6-0 defeat to Nika Kukharchuk of Russia, while India’s Sowjanya Bavisetti accounted for Adesuwa Osabuohein in a 7-5, 6-2 win.
The result of the day was recorded on Centre Court where South African qualifier Isabella Kruger bounced back from losing the first set to dump out top seed, Valeriya Strakhova 3-6, 6-0, 6-4.
She will take on Dutchwoman, Lexie Stevens in the second round where she will be joined by sister Zoe who toughed out a 6-4, 6-4 victory against Chriaz Bechri of Tunisia.
In the women’s doubles, the Nigerian duo of Blessing Anuna and Ronke Akingbade progressed to the quarter-finals, following a tight 5-7, 6-3, 11-9 victory over Patience Onebamhoin and Oiza Yakubu.
However, it was the end of the road for the team of Quadre and Adesuwa Osabuohein who lost a hard-fought match 6-2, 3-6, 10-5 to Sandra Samir and Prarthana Thombare.
In the men’s draw, Joseph Imeh dispatched countryman Mohammed Mohammed 6-3, 6-0 to advance to the second round where he will play Zimbabwe’s Takanyi Garanganga, who beat Russian qualifier, Alexey Dubinin 6-1, 7-6.
Wildcard Emmanuel Idoko survived a tense first set to see off Kenya’s Kibet Yego 7-5, 6-1 to set up a second round meeting with top seed Skander Mansouri who came through his match against Frenchman, Gianni Mina in straight sets.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s contingent in the men’s draw was decimated after the trio of Sylvester Emmanuel, Abayomi Philips and Paul Emmanuel were knocked out at the first hurdle.
Tournament 3rd seed, Benjamin Lock of Zimbabwe also suffered a first round exit at the hands of compatriot Mehluli Sibanda who triumphed 6-2, 6-3. He will be joined on the journey home by brother Courtney who suffered a 7-5, 6-0 defeat to India’s Aryan Goveas.
2015 Lagos Open champion, Aldin Setkic made a winning return after four years away with 6-3, 6-1 victory over Tristan Meraut of France.
