Nigeria’s Salvation Alex on Thursday secured a place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 NASCO/ITF J30 World Tennis Tour Junior Championship in Abuja.
Alex topped Girls Under-18 Group H after defeating Daisy Okechukwu of Canada 5-7, 6-0, 10-6 in a thrilling encounter at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Tennis Complex.
The Nigerian lost the opening set 5-7 but responded strongly, dominating the second set 6-0 to force a decisive match tie-break.
Alex maintained her momentum in the tie-break, overcoming a late challenge from Okechukwu to win 10-6 and seal qualification for the last eight.
The victory completed an impressive group-stage campaign for Alex, who finished ahead of Okechukwu, Blessing Peters and Gift Gamaniel in Group H.
Speaking after the match, Alex expressed delight at reaching the quarter-finals.
“The tournament has been very good for me. I have won all my singles matches, although I am out of the doubles event.
“Qualifying for the quarter-finals is a great achievement.
“I am looking forward to my next opponent and hope to reach the final and win the trophy,” she said.
Another quarter-finalist, Mary Azi, said she was pleased with her progress after winning all three matches in Group C.
“I am happy to have advanced to the quarter-finals.
“I need to keep improving my game and fitness through hard work.
“My focus is on winning the tournament and lifting the trophy,” she said.
Azi said she remained determined to excel in the singles category in spite of her exit from the doubles event on Wednesday.
She added that it was only her second appearance at the championship, having previously reached the second round in singles and the doubles semi-finals.
Blessing Peters, who failed to advance from Group H, said the tournament had exposed areas requiring improvement.
“I am out of the tournament this week, but I have learnt a lot.
“I need more training and better fitness to improve my performance,” she said.
Destiny Tomozayi also said she would work on her forehand, backhand, service and fitness ahead of the second week of competition.
“The officiating has been good. I will compete again next week and my target is to reach the semi-finals,” she said.
Other girls’ singles results saw Success Ogunjobi defeat Idowu Godwin 6-0, 6-1, while Toluwalashe Agunbiade beat Omoyinka Ayinla of Great Britain 4-6, 6-4, 10-6.
Khadijat Mohammed defeated Sarah Tijani 6-0, 6-0, while Jessica Togbe of France beat Emmanuella Bebe 6-0, 6-0.
Nenrot Suwa overcame Roneta Kacinskaite 7-5, 7-6(2).
Players who received byes included Chimezurum Ogualu, Nora Awode, Glory Olademeji, Rashmi Wijewardana, Mary Azi and Jamila Sani.
In the boys’ singles, Jinxuan Cheng of China received a walkover against Max Jeremy Errastibocourt of Sweden.
Seyi Ogunsakin defeated Umar Omaye 6-3, 6-1, while Olorun-Damilola Agunbiade beat Bill Freeman of Liberia 6-0, 4-0 (retired).
Levi Baker of Liberia received a walkover against Divyansh Lekhi of India, while Hengzhi Cui of China defeated Samuel Adegbite 6-0, 6-0.
Amir Mohammed beat Answer Nyennweh of Liberia 6-0, 6-0, while Segun Monday overcame Nathaniel Aluko 6-3, 2-6, 10-8.
Abdulbaasit Salami defeated Ismail Shuaibu 6-0, 6-0, while Khrush Chopra of India, Austin Ogbole and Mohammed Abdullahi received byes.
The report states that the championship runs from June 1 to June 13, with players from 14 countries competing in the tournament.
The competition adopted a round-robin format, with only group winners from the eight groups advancing to the quarter-finals.