In the men’s field at the Vemp Open on Wednesday, Sylvester Emmanuel, Joseph Imeh & Emmanuel Idoko eased into the quarter-finals of the Rainoil Open. Elsewhere, there were retirements due to injury.
The defending champion, Sylvester Emmanuel, chasing a second straight national title this week, made light work of Musa Bala to win 6-1, 6-1 and extend his winning run to 8 matches.
The 22-year-old, who won the Rainoil Open title last week, will take on Lawal Shehu in Thursday’s quarter-finals. Shehu defeated Clifford Enosoregbe 7-6(3), 6-3 on the day to make progress.
Joseph Imeh, who’s seeking to better his last year’s runner-up finish, produced a rock-solid performance to beat Ikechukwu Iloputa 6-3, 6-3 and reach the quarter-finals, where he will square off against youngster, Gabriel Friday, who claimed a 6-1, 1-0 (rtd) win over wildcard, Usman Kushimo.
Joseph Imeh
Elsewhere, Emmanuel Idoko, ranked 12th in the country, thrashed Michael Okechukwu 6-0, 6-3. Idoko, who represented Nigeria at the Davis Cup in Nairobi in September, was invincible in the opening set before dropping just three games in the second to wrap up a comprehensive straight-sets victory.
Emmanuel Idoko
Up next for Idoko is Uche Oparaoji, who was 6-1, 3-2 up before his opponent, Christian Paul retired due to injury.
Nonso Madueke and Musa Mohammed, both of whom will clash in the quarter-finals, also made progress after their respective opponents retired due to injury.
Madueke led 6-2, 3-2 before Charles Uwandu called it quits, while 17-year-old Musa Mohammed was 7-5, 4-1 up, when Albert Bikom retired.
In the doubles, Joseph Imeh and Christian Paul toughed out a 7-6(0), 7-5 win over Oche Adehi and Emmanuel Idoko to reach the semifinals, where they will take on Ikechukwu Iloputa and Joseph Iyorovbe, who defeated Henry John and Kesiye Maxwell 7-6(3), 6-1.
Christian Paul and Joseph Imeh
Who Endurance and Michael Chima defeated Musa Ndagana and Isaac Attah 6-1, 6-2 to set up a semifinal showdown with Nonso Madueke and Lawal Shehu, who claimed a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Gabriel Friday and Ambrose Michael.
Men’s Singles – 2nd Round
Gabriel Friday bt. Usman Kushimo 6-1, 1-0 rtd
Nonso Madueke bt. Charles Uwandu 6-2, 3-2 rtd
Musa Mohammed bt. Albert Bikom 7-5, 4-1 rtd
Emmanuel Idoko bt. Michael Okechukwu 6-0, 6-3
Sylvester Emmanuel bt. Musa Bala 6-1, 6-1
Lawal Shehu bt. Clifford Enosoregbe 7-6(3), 6-3
Joseph Imeh bt. Ikechukwu Iloputa 6-3, 6-3
Uche Oparaoji bt. Christian Paul 6-1, 3-2 rtd
Men’s Doubles – Quarterfinals
Endurance Ehi/Chima Michael bt. Musa Ndagana/Isaac Attah 6-1, 6-2
Nonso Madueke/Lawal Shehu bt. Gabriel Friday/Ambrose Michael 6-4, 6-2
Ikechukwu Iloputa/Joseph Iyorovbe bt. Henry John/Kesiye Maxwell 7-6(3), 6-1
Joseph Imeh/Christian Paul bt. Oche Adehi/Emmanuel Idoko 7-6(0), 7-5
