Nigeria’s No.2, Joseph Imeh, eased his way into the second round of the Dayak Tennis Championships with straight sets victory over his compatriot, Emmanuel Audu, in Abuja today.
Imeh took just 60 minutes to wrap up a convincing 6-2, 6-2 victory over Audu, who was competing in his first main draw match on the ITF World Tour this year.
Up next for Imeh is Pedro Sorgi of Brazil, who defeated Michail Pervolarakis 6-1, 2-0 (rtd). Greece’s Pervolarakis had retired in the second set due to injury.
Meanwhile, 17-year-old Musa Mohammed was beaten 6-1, 6-2 by Tombim Open finalist, Jaimee Floyd Angele. Victory for Angele sees him set up a mouthwatering second round showdown with defending champion, Maximilian Neuchrist. Neuchrist, who’s the top seed, got his title defense campaign off to a good start by beating Tuki Jacobs of Namibia 6-3, 6-4.
Namibia’s Jacob, having lost the first set, bounced back strongly early in the second set and opened up a 4-1 lead. He, however, squandered the lead, as Neuchrist found his range to win five games on the trot and close out the match in 81 minutes.
Maximilian Neuchrist stayed on course in his title-defense bid in Abuja today.
Elsewhere, Lagos Open champion, Jack Draper of Great Britain, advanced to the second round, following a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Swedish qualifier, Simon Yitbarek, on Centre Court.
Draper, aged 17 and ranked 559th in the world, suffered from a lapse in concentration late in the second set, while leading 5-1. His Swedish opponent fought back to reduce the deficit and almost drew level, before he regained composure to close out the contest.
‘Thumbs up.’ 17-year-old Jack Draper got off to a good start at the Dayak Championships in Abuja today.
The Brit next faces Danylo Kalenichenko, who defeated Suraj Prabodh 6-4, 7-5 on Tuesday.
Fourth seed, Tom Jomby of France, who made back-to-back finals at the Lagos Open last year, winning that of the 1st leg, dismissed American qualifier, Jacob Gamble 6-1, 6-2, while Burundi’s Guy Orly Iradukunda defeated Maxime Mora 6-4, 6-1.
There were major upsets on Day 3, with second seed, Sadio Doumbia, who won the Tombim Open last week, and third seed, Arjun Kadhe, who reached the semifinals last week, suffering shock first round exits.
Doumbia was beaten 6-4, 6-4 by unseeded Dutchman, Niels Lootsma, while India’s Kadhe fell to a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 defeat at the hands of Czech qualifier, Dominik Palan.
Other first round winners include Zimbabwe’s Benjamin Lock, who beat 14-year-old Mukhtar Andu of Great Britain 6-0, 6-0, Gilbert Soares Junior, Fabien Reboul, and Peter Kobelt.
Gilbert Junior defeated Oleg Khotkov 6-3, 3-0(rtd), Fabien Reboul defeated Marko Vejnovic 6-0, 1-0(rtd), while Peter Kobelt beat Boris Butulija 7-6, 6-2.
