Sada Nahimana, Africa’s No. 1 junior player, advanced to the semifinals of the Lagos Open on Friday, following a fine straight-sets victory over Dutchwoman, Lexie Stevens.
The 18-year-old Burundian delivered a rock-solid performance to record a 6-2, 6-4 win and set up a semifinal showdown with Fanny Ostlund of Sweden.
Nahimana, bidding for her first title on the ITF World Tour, got the perfect start as she broke Stevens’ opening service game and then went ahead in no time for a 5-1 lead before closing out the set. A break in the 10th game of the second set saw the Burundian close out the 72-minute contest.
Up next for Nahimana is Ostlund, who also hasn’t dropped a set this week. The 8th-seeded Swede defeated 3rd seed Nastja Kolar 6-3, 6-4 in 77 minutes to remain on course for her fourth ITF Tour title.
Elsewhere, Riya Bhatia of India stunned 2nd seed, Sandra Samir 6-2, 6-3 to reach the semifinals. Bhatia will next play either Laura Pigossi of Brazil or her countrywoman, Rutuja Bhosale who were midway through their match before rain interrupted and caused play to be suspended. Pigossi led 7-5, 4-3.
The men’s singles matches also had to be suspended due to the downpour at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club in Onikan. Before the interruption, Aldin Setkic led 2nd seed, Aziz Dougaz 2-1 in the first set, while Calvin Hemery was 3-1 up against Mehluli Sibanda.
Meanwhile, top seed, Skander Mansouri withdrew from his quarter-final contest against Zimbabwe’s Takanyi Garanganga due to illness. Garanganga will now take on either Calvin Hemery or Mehluli Sibanda for a place in the final.
Play resumes Saturday from 9:30am at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan. The unfinished quarter-final singles matches as well as the semifinals will be played same day.