Babalola, Imeh, progress to third round of CBN Open

The defending champion of the men’s singles event of the on-going 40th Central Bank of Nigeria Senior men and women Open Tennis Championship,

Abdumumuni Babalola, was on to a good start yesterday when he won two matches back to back to advance to the third round of the championship.

Putting the disappointment of the heavy rain that disrupted his first game on Monday behind him, Babalola stopped John Henry by beating him 6-1, 6-2, in his first round match before gaining another victory over Abayomi Philip whom he defeated 6-3, 6-1 to cruise to today’s round of 16, which is the third round.

Also in the third round is tournament top seed, Joseph Imeh, who also had a delayed experience like Babalola by playing two games yesterday.

Imeh won 6-2, 6-1 against Taiwo Owolabi in his first match and beat John Otu 6-1, 6-4 in the second round.

He ‘s to face old war horse, Shehu Lawal in one of today’s third round pairings while Clifford Enosoregbe beat Martins Abamu in yesterday’s second round will battle loquacious former champion, Thomas Otu to decide who plays in tomorrow’s quarter finals.

In the women category, the defending champion and tournament top seed, Sarah Adegoke, wasted no time in her first round game as she trashed Akosile Afolarin 6-0, 6-0 to teach her some lessons about modern day tennis while Seed 3, Christy Agugbom subdued favour Moses by beating het 6’1, 6-2 as Ronke Akingbade seeded seven outclassed unseeded Temitope Fashanu who gained entrance through the qualifiers 6-2, 6-1.

Women’s second seed, Blessing Samuel banked on experience to beat Omotayo Osewa 7-6, 6-4. Blessing who will be up against Fortune Ebere in the women singles quarter-finals, cried not playing her game as she confessed of committing too much unforced errors. “I did not play my game today.

I committed so many unforced errors that could have made me lose the match.

And even when I wanted to adjust, I became nervous. But thank God that is over now and I won. I hope to adjust in my next match”