The top two seeds, Sylvester Emmanuel and Joseph Imeh eased into the semifinals of the Rainoil Open, while Emmanuel Idoko stunned 4th seed, Thomas Otu.
Sylvester Emmanuel, seeded No. 1, outclassed Peter Lawal 6-2, 6-0 to make the last four. An early break put Emmanuel in control of the contest and another set him 4-1 up in the first set. He eventually secured the set 6-2 and then went on to win the next six games to claim victory.
The top seed will next face Chima Michael, who defeated Ajang Sylvanus 6-3, 6-4. A break in the first set was enough to hand Michael the set. Sylvanus would take a 3-0 lead in the second set, but fought back to win 6 of the next 7 games and run out a straight-sets victor.
Elsewhere, Joseph Imeh, seeded No. 2, advanced to the semis following a 6-2, 6-4 win over Godgift Timibra. After losing the opening set, Timibra raced to a 3-1 lead in the second set, but couldn’t sustain it. Imeh would draw level for 4-4 before a break in the 10th game sent him into the semifinals.
Up next for the 22-year-old is Emmanuel Idoko who, defeated Thomas Otu 6-1, 6-2. Idoko broke thrice to take the first set before wrapping up victory in the second.
In the doubles, Joseph Imeh and Christian Paul will have another chance at glory, after they beat Oche Adehi and Emmanuel Idoko 6-3, 6-3 to reach their second straight doubles final here.
The duo, who lost in last year’s final, will take on Uche Oparaoji and Godgift Timibra for the title.
Oparaoji and Timibra rallied from a set down to edge Emmanuel Ikakah and Charles Uwandu 3-6, 6-4, 10-6.