Top seed, Alex Adewale began his title-defense campaign at the PUMA Engineering Wheelchair Open brilliantly, as he eased into the quarter-finals of the men’s singles, while his compatriot, Wasiu Yusuf was also on song in Abuja.
Adewale, who emerged winner in the inaugural edition last year, dismissed Abdulrasak Nuhu of Ghana 6-0, 6-2 to advance to the quarterfinals where he will face Kenya’s Rajab Athman, who defeated Austin Benedict of Nigeria 6-3, 6-3.
Elsewhere, Wasiu Yusuf, a semi-finalist in last year’s edition, got off to a flying start, with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over his countryman, Idowu Ajani. Up next for Wasiu is Rasaq Bankole, who rallied from a set down to edge Daniel Laryea of Ghana 4-6, 7-6, 7-6.
Nigeria’s Kazeem Akanbi, who’s unseeded, stunned last year’s runner-up, Peter Munuve of Kenya in three sets. Akanbi had lost the opening set, but bounced back in superb fashion to claim a 5-7, 6-1, 6-3 victory.
Kazeem Akanbi
In the quarter-finals, the Nigerian will go head-to-head with Tanzania’s Novatus Temba, who beat Vershima Mende 6-1, 6-1.
Juma Hamis of Tanzania defeated Nigeria’s Kayode Alabi 6-3, 7-6, and will next play Collins Lumumba of Kenya who beat William Ukari 7-5, 4-6, 6-2.
In the women’s singles field, Asiya Sururu of Kenya advanced to the quarter-finals, following a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 victory over Tosin Dawodu of Nigeria, while Vivian Ozurumba prevailed 7-6, 6-4 over Foluke Shodeinde.
Asiya Sururu
Nigeria’s Chituru Nwaozuzu proved too much for Stacy Mensah of Ghana, surrendering just a game in a 6-1, 6-0 win.
In the men’s doubles, the duo of Alex Adewale and Wasiu Yusuf eased past Juma Hamis and Novatus Temba 6-3, 6-1, while Kazeem Akanbi and Williams Ukari claimed a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Rajab Uthman and Rasaq Bankole.
Kenyan pair, Collins Lumumba and Peter Munuve beat the Ghanaian duo of Daniel Laryea and Abdulrasak Nuhu 6-1, 6-2, while Nigeria’s Idowu Ajani and Kayode Alabi edged Austin Benedict and Vershima Mende 6-2, 4-6, 10-5.
In the women’s doubles, Vivian Ozurumba and Foluke Shodeinde dismantled Stacy Mensah and Bridget Nartey 6-0, 6-1.
