Abayomi Philips, the tournament’s 5th seed, came from behind to beat local favourite Arnaud Sewanou in three sets after inclement weather had interrupted proceedings on Thursday.
Philips had lost the first set and was making a comeback in the second before rain caused played to be suspended, with the score at 1-6, 4-2 for the Nigerian.
The 17-year-old would return to court on Friday against the Beninese to finish off business, as he took the second to force a final set, which he won in superb fashion to register a 1-6, 6-4, 1-6 victory and move into the semifinals.
The Nigerian is still in action today, Friday, as he takes on No. 2 seed, Aaryan Zaveri of India, with a place in the final on the line. Both boys have played each other twice, with the head-to-head standing at 1-1. Philips, though, won the pair’s most recent encounter – a 7-6, 6-3 victory in the quarter-finals of the J5 Lome event two weeks ago. Zaveri’s win over the Nigeria was a three-set victory in Lome in September last year.
Philips has put together an astonishing 12-2 win-loss record on the Junior Circuit so far this year and will look to keep up the momentum, as he bids for a second title on the circuit.
