Rainoil Tennis Open: Oparaoji, Paul, others ease into second round

By Our Reporter 

TOURNAMENT’S 3rd seed, Uche Oparaoji, Emmanuel Paul, Oche Adehi, Matthew Abamu and Ajang Sylvanus have secured their place in the second round of the ongoing Rainoil Tennis Open holding at the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja.

Oparaoji kick-started his campaign with a very comfortable victory over Stephen Augustine on Monday.

Oparaoji, looking to better his Dala Hard Court semifinal run this week, dropped just a game in a 6-0, 6-1 victory over his 51st-ranked opponent. Up next for the 22-year-old is either Isiaka Toriola or Wilson Igbinovia, both of whom are qualifiers.

Emmanuel Paul made light work of 16th seed, Henry John, winning 6-2, 6-3 to make the progress. On Court 6, it wasn’t as easy for 7th seed, Oche Adehi, who had to go through two tight sets before prevailing in the third set for a 7-6(5), 6-7(5), 6-2 victory over Tochukwu Ezeh.

Elsewhere, Matthew Abamu came from a set down to beat Ambrose Michael 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, while Isaac Attah crushed Ojobo Chekwuebe 6-1, 6-0.

9th seed, Ajang Sylvanus also advanced to the second round with a 6-1, 2-0 (rtd) win over Kayode Olawolu, who retired due to injury in the second set. In other matches, John Dickson edged Michael Ayoola 7-5, 7-5, Michael Osewa beat Amos Michael 6-3, 6-3, and Peter Lawal outclassed Filipo Trombi 6-0, 6-1.

14th seed, Joseph Iyorovbe overcame Samson Adewale in a third set tiebreaker to claim a 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(4) and set up a second round encounter with wildcard, Opeyemi Odeyemi, who cruised past David Okonkwo 6-2, 6-0.

Joseph Iyorovbe 

Christian Paul thrashed Michael Okechukwu 6-0, 6-1, while Emmanuel Ikakah dismissed Ezekiel Adeleye 6-1, 6-1. Anthony Leo claimed a 6-2, 6-3 win over Richard Ogbu.

In the women’s doubles, the duo of Mariam Ali-balogun and Olamide Aluko combined impressively to beat Oluchi Igwe and Omotayo Osewa 6-2, 6-3 and move into the quarter-finals.

Mariam Ali-balogun and Olamide Aluko in action 

Isiaka Toriola held a 3-0 first set lead over Wilson Igbinovia, while Benjamin Chiwendu was 6-4, 1-6, 3-2 up against Clifford Enosoregbe before rain caused play to be suspended.

Clifford Enosoregbe

In the men’s doubles, Odeyemi Abayomi and Moses Paul were 3-2 up in the first set against Stephen Augustine and Gabriel Friday, while Bunmi Are and Khadijat Salami were 6-1, 0-1 against Oghechi Aniegbo and Ujunwa Umeh in the women’s doubles before the suspension.


Men’s singles results – 1st round:

Mathew Abamu bt. Ambrose Michael 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
Emmanuel Paul bt. Henry John 6-2, 6-3
Peter Lawal bt. Filipo Trombi 6-0, 6-1
Oche Adehi bt. Tochukwu Ezeh 7-6(5), 6-7(5), 6-2
Uche Oparaoji bt. Stephen Augustine 6-0, 6-1
Ajang Sylvanus bt. Kayode Olawolu 6-1, 2-0 rtd
John Dickson bt. Michael Ayoola 7-5, 7-5
Isaac Attah bt. Ojobo Chekwube 6-1, 6-0
Michael Osewa bt. Amos Michael 6-3, 6-3
Joseph Iyorovbe bt. Samson Adewale 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(4)
Anthony Leo bt. Richard Ogbu 6-2, 6-3
Christian Paul bt. Michael Okechukwu 6-0, 6-1
Emmanuel Ikakah bt. Ezekiel Adeleye 6-1, 6-1
Opeyemi Odeyemi bt. David Okonkwo 6-2, 6-0

Women’s doubles – 1st round:

Mariam Ali-balogun/Olamide Aluko bt. Oluchi Igwe/Omotayo Osewa 6-2, 6-3

Source: ntftennis.com