Defending women’s champion Marylove Edwards yesterday cruised into the semi-finals of the 2022 Lagos Tennis Cup with a game to spare after brushing aside 8th seed Blessing Omotayo 6-4, 6-2 on Centre Court at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Clu.
The win ensured the 17-year-old sensation will face 16-year-old Oiza Yakubu in a top-of-the-table clash today, after the latter
also qualified for the last-four after coming from behind to beat 6th seed Rachael Adunoye in three sets of 6-7, 6-1, 6-2.
Omotayo and Adunoye will face each other in a dead rubber tie as each looks certain to be heading home after losing their opening two group games.
The other group is still very open despite second seed Aanu Ayegbusi having won her opening two matches. She still needs a result against 4th seed Stella Udokwelu who bounced back from an opening round loss to Lagos-based Toyin Asogba to hammer 5th seed Bunmi Are 6-3, 6-2.
The 7th seed Asogba will take on Are in her final group game and a win significantly would enhance her chances of a place in the last four.
On the men’s side of the draw, defending champion Uche Oparaoji steamrolled 4th seed Peter Lawal 6-2, 6-0 to almost guarantee a place in the semi-finals.
The 24-year-old left-hander is scheduled to play injured Chima Michael in his last group game. If Chima, as anticipated, is unable to play, Oparaoji would be making his second straight semi-final appearance in the Lagos Tennis Cup.
Seventh seed Chima, who lost his first game 3-6, 1-6 to Lawal, was leading No.1 seed Henry Atseye 6-2, 2-1 before retiring because of an apparently serious injury in his midsection. Atseye gets the win and will now tackle fellow Abuja boy Lawal for a place in the semis.
In the other group, Lagos boy Phillip Abayomi tightened his grip on the table after defeating Godsgift Timibra 7-6(7), 7-5 for his second win on the bounce. The 6th seed is scheduled to take on the erratic Thomas Otu next. Otu, who lost his first round tie to Timibra, can no longer advance after suffering a walkover against second seed Nonso Madueke.
The semi-finals will be played tomorrow while the men and women’s finals will be played on Sunday to wrap up the 2022 edition of the Lagos Tennis Cup.