The Nigerian Team at the regional qualifier for the ITF’s flagship wheelchair tennis team event failed to seal qualification to the BNP Paribas World Team Cup, which will take place in Israel in May, after they were beaten by South Africa in the men’s and women’s ties.
The South Africans ran out 3-0 winners in the women’s tie, with Mariska Venter getting the better of Chituru Nwaozuzu 6-0, 6-4 and Kgothatso Montjane handing Kafayat Omisore a double bagel to go 2-0 clear. Venter and Montjane would join forces in the doubles rubber to claim a 6-1, 6-1 win over Nwaozuzu and Omisore and seal the tie. The South African women’s team earned qualification after topping the 1st Pool and defeating the Kenyan team that topped Pool 2, 3-0. It’s the first time in three years that Kenya has failed to qualify.
The men were also beaten by the same scoreline. Wasiu Yusuf put up a spirited challenge but was eventually outlasted by Alwande Skhosana 6-4, 7-5 in the 1st singles rubber, while Alex Adewale fell 2-6, 1-6 to Evans Maripa in the 2nd singles rubber. The doubles rubber went to three sets, and it was Skhosana and Maripa who came out tops with a 5-7, 6-2, 10-7 victory.
For the South African men’s team to seal qualification to the World Team Cup in Israel, they will have to defeat host nation, Kenya in a final tie.
