The curtain came down on the Tombim Abuja Open on Sunday, with Sadio Doumbia of France emerging champion. The Dayak Tennis Championships, the second ITF World Tour event in Abuja, now takes centre stage at the National Tennis Centre.

The Dayak Championships event begins with the battle to secure main draw spots, and six Nigerians will headline the qualifying draw, which serves off on Monday.

Sylvester Emmanuel, who’s the country’s No.1, Joseph Imeh, Christian Paul, Emmanuel Idoko, Tochukwu Ezeh, and Maxwell Kesiye, are all listed in the qualifying draw and will be in action on Monday.

Emmanuel, who reached the second round of the Tombim Abuja Open last week before retiring midway through his match due to a wrist injury, will take on Sweden’s Markus Schultz in round one, while Joseph Imeh and Emmanuel Idoko will face off in an all-Nigerian clash.

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Joseph Imeh. Photo: Ewaoche Ameh

Tochukwu Ezeh will take on America’s Jacob Gamble, while Christian Paul faces Sweden’s Arvid Nordquist. Maxwell Kesiye will have Great Britain’s Darryl Hale to contend with for place in the second round.

Marko Vejnovic, who won the wildcard playoffs of the Tombim Abuja Open a week ago, will face John Lock of Zimbabwe, while Abdoulaziz Bationo of Benin squares off against France’s Arthur Bernabe.

Matches will be live from 10:00am at the National Tennis Centre in Abuja.