The top seeds had little trouble advancing to the semifinals of the PUMA Engineering Wheelchair Open in Abuja today.
The tournament’s No. 1 seed, Alex Adewale remained right on course for a second consecutive title with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Rajab Athman of Kenya.
Adewale will now on go to face Tanzania’s Novatus Temba, who defeated Kazeem Akanbi of Nigeria 6-1, 6-0, for a place in the final.
Novatus Temba in action.
Elsewhere, 2nd seed, Wasiu Yusuf of Nigeria made light work of his compatriot, Rasaq Bankole, winning 6-1, 6-1. Yusuf, who finished as a semi-finalist last year, will look to go one better when he takes on No. 3 seed, Collins Lumumba of Kenya in Friday’s semifinals.
Collins Lumumba
Lumumba defeated Tanzania’s Juma Hamis 6-2, 6-4 to progress.
In the women’s field, defending champion, Kafayat Omisore, who received a bye in the first round, began her campaign with a three-set victory over Asiya Sururu of Kenya.
Omisore secured a tight third set to claim a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 win and move into the semifinals, where she will take on Lucy Shirima of Tanzania, who beat Ghana’s Bridget Nartey 6-3, 6-1.
Kemi Oluwasegun of Nigeria rallied from an opening set loss to beat her countrywoman, Vivian Ozurumba 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.
In the doubles event, defending champions, Alex Adewale and Wasiu Yusuf advanced to their second straight men’s doubles final, following a 6-4, 2-6, 10-2 victory over Kazeem Akanbi and Williams Ukari. For the title, Adewale and Yusuf will play Kenya’s Collins Lumumba and Peter Munuve, who defeated Idowu Ajani and Kayode Alabi 6-0, 6-1.
In the women’s doubles, Tosin Dawodu and Chituru Nwaozuzu dismissed Vivian Ozurumba and Foluke Shodeinde 6-1, 6-2 to reach the final, where they will take on the Kenyan pair of Asiya Sururu and Jane Ndenga, who beat Kafayat Omisore and Kemi Oluwasegun 7-5, 1-6, 11-9.
