Main draw action at the Lagos Open got underway Wednesday morning, with Oyinlomo Quadre and Blessing Samuel impressively working their way into the second round. Meanwhile, there was a major upset, as South African qualifier knocked out the tournament’s top seed, Valeriya Strakhova.
Teen sensation, Quadre, got off to the finest of starts as she produced a powerful display to beat her countrywoman, Patience Onebamhoin 6-0, 6-2. Quadre needed just 16 minutes to close out the first set and was barely troubled in the second.
Quadre in action.
Up next for the 16-year-old is No. 5 seed, Riya Bhatia of India, who handed Oiza Yakubu a double bagel.
On Court 7, Nigeria’s top player, Blessing Samuel did just enough to beat Aanu Aiyegbusi 6-3, 6-4 and also advance. Aiyegbusi had the better start, as she opened a 2-0 lead in the first set. But that evaporated quickly, as Samuel drew level for 2-2 and broke once more in the 8th game for 5-3 before closing out the set. Both women would trade breaks in the second set, but it was Samuel who played the better tennis in the moments that mattered to secure victory. She next plays 2nd seed, Sandra Samir of Egypt, who went past Indian qualifier, Peddi Reddy 6-2, 6-3.
Blessing Samuel
Elsewhere, Sarah Adegoke was beaten 6-0, 7-5 by Tamara Curovic of Serbia, while Omolade Aderemi went down 6-1, 6-0 to Nika Kukharchuk of Russia. India’s Sowjanya Bavisetti edged America-based Nigerian, Adesuwa Osabuohein 7-5, 6-2.
On Centre Court, South Africa’s Isabella Kruger, who came in via the qualifiers, produced an inspired come-from-behind performance to knock out top seed, Valeriya Strakhova 3-6, 6-0, 6-4.
Isabella Kruger
Kruger bounced back from an opening set defeat, emphatically to hand the Ukrainian a second set bagel and force a third set. The South African would carve out the decisive break in the 7th game of the third set to go 4-3 up and held firm thereafter to close out victory in an hour and 42 minutes.
She will take on Dutchwoman, Lexie Stevens for a place in the quarter-finals.
Isabelle’s sister, Zoe Kruger also joined the second round train, following a solid 6-4, 6-4 victory over Chriaz Bechri of Tunisia.
Zoe Kruger in action. Photo: Chris Onah
In the women’s doubles, the Nigerian pair of Blessing Anuna and Ronke Akingbade advanced to the quarter-finals, following a tight 5-7, 6-3, 11-9 victory over the duo of Patience Onebamhoin and Oiza Yakubu.
Elsewhere, the duo of Quadre and Adesuwa Osabuohein were edged 6-2, 3-6, 10-5 by Sandra Samir and Prarthana Thombare.
