Abayomi Phillips got off to great start at the GTFLifetime Athletic Open in Accra, Ghana on Monday. And so did Joshua Aji, the other Nigerian in the boy’s singles draw.

Philips, who’s seeded No.5, advanced to the second round, following a comfortable 6-2, 6-2 victory over Kossi Dogbefu of Togo. The 17-year-old Nigerian will next face Ghana’s Bright Nortey, who defeated Adrian Martinez of Spain 6-0, 6-0.

Elsewhere, Joshua Aji soundly defeated home favourite, Joseph Hammond of Ghana 6-2, 6-1 to move into the second round, where he will take on No.2 seed, Paul Ngouadjio of Cameroon on Tuesday. The young Cameroonian had beaten Ghana’s Richmond Armaah 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(4) to make progress.

In the girl’s singles, Serena Teluwo was beaten by Ghana’s Nyanyuie Tomegah 6-0, 6-3.

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Serena Teluwo came up short in her first round match.

Marylove Edwards and Oiza Yakubu, both of whom received first round byes, are in second round action on Tuesday, with Edwards taking on America’s Tatiana Loglo and Yakubu facing Carmen Kpadonou.

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Marylove Edwards

In the doubles event, the Nigerian pair of Serena Teluwo and Oiza Yakubu will square off against the American–Togolese pair of Tatiana Loglo and Valentine Talaki for a place in the girls doubles quarter-finals.

In the boys doubles, Joshua Aji is in partnership with Ghana’s Augustus Tetteh and will both take on the Ghanaian pair of Eric Amah and Joseph Hammond, while the duo of Abayomi Philips and Vishesh Patel of India face Ghana’s Richmond Armaah and Emmanuel Wettey.