Alex Adewale and Wasiu Yusuf’s title-defense hopes were dashed in the doubles semifinals, as the duo lost in straight sets at the Nairobi Open on Tuesday.

Adewale and Yusuf, bidding to defend their doubles title at the $3,000 clay-court event in Kenya, had moved into the semifinals, following a dominant 6-2, 6-1 victory over Egypt’s Mohamed Abd el hafez and Hasssan Emad.

In the semifinals, however, the South African-Brazilian pair of Leon Els and Rafael Medeiros proved too much for the Nigerians as they ran out 6-1, 6-3 winners.

Adewale and Yusuf will now turn their attention to the World Team Cup Africa qualifiers, which begins Thursday, 13 February in Nairobi, also.