CBN Tennis Championship: Imeh, Quadre begin title defence with easy wins
Joseph Imeh returned to winning ways on Tuesday when he beat Ambrose Michael 6-2 6-0 in the opening round of the CBN Senior Tennis Championship in Abuja.
Having come through a week of rigorous tennis action at the just-concluded DavNotch Tennis Championship where he emerged champion.
The number one seed let his tennis do the talking as he eased through the first round against the 25th-ranked Michael at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Imeh is the defending champion of the CBN Senior Tennis Championship.
The champion looked very much at home on the distinctive blue surface as he made light work of his unseeded opponent in two straight sets to round off proceedings under an hour.
“It was a good and fast-paced game. The keyword for me always is consistency and I am positive I can keep the tempo and momentum high.
“I am looking forward to my next game and I hope for the best as always. With dedication and hard work I believe I can successfully defend my title for a second time in row,” Imeh told NAN after the game.
In other first round fixtures in the men’s singles, number 13 seed Clifford Enosoregbe progressed to the second round after Abdulmumuni Babalola was forced to retire.
He retired early as a result of injury in the first set at 2-2.
Also, Abayomi Philip defeated Sylvanus Ajang 2-0 (7-5 7-5), while Opeyemi Odeyemi thrashed Mohammed Abdulsalami 2-0 (6-2 6-1).
John Henry edged Chinedu Nwagu in two very tightly-contested sets of 7-6 (6) 7-6 (6).
The women’s singles category saw number one seed Oyinlomo Quadre outclass Esther Olamide 6-1 6-0.
Quadre, also fresh from just winning the women’s singles and doubles titles at the inaugural DavNotch Tennis Championship, was looking to continue her dominance of the game at the CBN championship.
However, it was the unseeded Olamide who started on the front foot as she raced into a 1-0 lead at the beginning of the first set.
But the champion soon settled into the game and never looked back as she began her title defence on a resounding note.
“It wasn’t so good performance-wise for me today. I didn’t play my best tennis and my rhythm was a bit slow.
“I think I will attribute that to my mood coming into the match. I wasn’t really in the tournament mood.
“At some times I was sluggish and sleepy on court, especially in the first set. But I bounced back and managed to get some things right,” Quadre said.
The defending champion who is looking to make it her third title win in a row after winning it back-to-back in 2019 and 2020 said her strategy was to take each game as it comes.
“No two games are the same and so my strategy is always to take each one as it comes and try not to look beyond my next opponent.
“So, I am positive that my game will keep improving with each match I play and by God’s grace I can successfully defend my title for a third consecutive time,” she said.
Results of some other first round matches played in the women’s singles category saw Rebecca Ekpenyong thrash Khadijat Salami 6-0 6-1.
Blessing Samuel defeated Blessing Omotayo 7-5 6-4, while Favour Moses came back from a set down to beat Omotayo Osewa 4-6 6-3 7-6.
Also, number eight seed Serah Adegoke whipped Blessing Aanu in two straight sets 6-1 6-0 to progress into the second round in style.
NAN reports that the championship continues with second and third round fixtures in the men’s and women’s singles events as well as first round fixtures in the doubles category.
The championship which began on Monday is to end on Saturday.
