Nigeria’s No.1, Sylvester Emmanuel powered to his second straight CBN Open title, following a straight-sets win over Abdulmumin Babalola in the final in Abuja on Saturday.

Emmanuel, who won his maiden CBN Open last year, defeating Babalola in that final, prevailed over the 34-year-old again, registering a 6-4, 6-4 victory to become only the 7th man to defend the title since its inception in 1979.

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Both men embrace at the net after their match.

Both men kept things with serve in the first set until the 10th game, where Emmanuel found the decisive break to clinch the set. The second set began differently, with both men trading breaks early. Both men would exchange breaks again, but it was Emmanuel who got the all-important one in the 10th game to secure victory.

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Champion, Sylvester Emmanuel (L) and runner-up, Abdulmumin Babalola strike a pose with their trophies.

Babalola, a 6-time champion, was bidding to tie David Imonitie’s long-standing record of seven titles, but will now have to wait another year for another shot.