Semi-final action at the NTF International Junior Championships takes centre stage on Saturday, with the players left in the draw looking to book their place in the final.
Oyinlomo Quadre goes head-to-head with 3rd seed, Blanche Minet. Both girls haven’t dropped a set so far this week, moving into the last four with relative ease. While Quadre dismissed Jade Haller 6-3, 6-0 in Friday’s quarter-finals, Minet powered past Oiza Yakubu 6-1, 6-2.
The Ivorian came close to winning her first ITF title last week, but fell short to Marylove Edwards. Can she upset Quadre and get another chance at glory? Or will Quadre prove too strong?
Blanche Minet
First leg champion, Marylove Edwards squares off against French 6th seed, Iantsatiana Ratovondrahona in a repeat of their semi-final contest last week, which Edwards won 7-5, 6-3 en route to the title. Can the 2nd-seeded Nigerian prevail again and reach her second straight final? Or will Ratovondrahona, who hasn’t dropped a set so far, avenge her defeat and move into the first ITF Junior final of her career?
Top seed, Abayomi Philips, will be playing for a place in his 4th ITF Junior final, when he takes on Wilson Igbinovia, who reached his maiden ITF semi-finals after beating Joshua Aji in three sets on Friday. Abayomi, meanwhile, registered a 6-1, 5-0 (rtd) win against David Dawariye in Friday’s quarter-finals to reach the last four. Can he remain on track?
Abayomi Philips
First match on Centre Court sees Musa Mohammed against last week’s semi-finalist, Emmanuel Jebutu. Mohammed, runner-up in the first leg, has been in superb form this fortnight. The 17-year-old outclassed 2nd seed, Assil Boussayari in straight sets to reach the semis. Can he now top Jebutu and stay on course for a first ITF title?
Jebutu, meanwhile, knocked out last week’s champion, Canice Abua in straight sets on Friday and will come into this match with plenty of confidence. Can he ride on that momentum and go one better this week?
Emmanuel Jebutu
The boys and girls doubles titles will be decided for on the day, with the duo of Desmond Ayaaba and Musa Mohammed taking on Assil Boussayari and Gabriel Friday, while Oyinlomo Quadre and Marylove Edwards square off against Jesutoyosi Adeusi and Omolayo Bamidele for the girls’
Matches begin from 9:00am at the National Tennis Centre, Abuja.
Saturday’s Order of Play
