Eight players each in the men’s and women’s singles fields secured main draw spots, following the final qualifying rounds at the Vemp Open in Abuja on Sunday.
In the men’s field, where players went through two qualifying matches, youngster, Gabriel Friday, Michael Ambrose and Emmanuel Ikakah joined 5 other players in booking their place in the men’s singles main draw as qualifiers.
Friday first defeated Anthony Leo 6-2, 7-6(3) in the second round before going on to outclass Aliyu Idris 6-0, 6-1 in the final round. Meanwhile, Ambrose had beaten David Dawariye 6-4, 6-4 in his second-rounder before claiming a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Michael Osewa
Elsewhere, Emmanuel Ikakah defeated Usman Abubakar 6-2, 7-5 in the second round, and had to rally from a set down in the final round to beat youngster, Suleiman Ibrahim 2-6, 6-1, 6-0
In the women’s singles, which had only the final round action on the day, Omotayo Osewa, a former No. 1, who had received a bye in the first round, trounced Rebecca Kwange 6-2, 6-0
Omotayo Osewa
Rose Abu, who also received a first round bye, defeated Faith Sunday 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, while Joy Sunday proved too good for Mercy Samuel, winning 6-0, 6-0. In another match, Toyin Asogba came from a set down to beat Ngozi Dirisu 1-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Men’s Singles – 2nd Round
Tochukwu Ezeh bt. Kesiye Maxwell 6-2, 6-1
Austin Odey bt. Anthony Obekpa 6-4, 6-4
Linus Paul bt. Christopher Itodo 6-3, 6-1
Solomon Idoko bt. Jibrin Hassan 7-6(2), 7-5
Musa Bala bt. Michael Emmanuel 6-4, 6-1
Michael Okechukwu bt. Lawal Walid 6-4, 4-6, 10-5
Ambrose Michael bt. David Dawariye 6-4, 6-4
Michael Osewa bt. Abraham Olatunji 6-4, 5-0 (rtd)
Emmanuel Ikakah bt. Usman Abubakar 6-2, 7-5
Suleiman Ibrahim bt. Benjamin Ayuba 3-6, 6-0, 14-12
Elisha Olowogbile bt. Lawrence Pius 5-7, 6-3, 10-8
Charles Uwandu bt. Lawal Ahmed 6-2, 6-2
Aliyu Idris bt. Phillip Adamu 6-3, 6-4
Gabriel Friday bt. Anthony Leo 6-2, 7-6(3)
Musa Sani bt. Ukpe Ukpe 6-0, 6-0
Isaac Attah bt. Joseph Peter 6-0, 6-1
Men’s Singles – Final Qualifying Round
Tochukwu Ezeh bt. Austin Odey 6-4, 2-6, 6-1
Linus Paul bt. Solomon Idoko 2-6, 6-3, 5-3 rtd
Musa Bala bt. Michael Okechukwu 6-4, 6-4
Ambrose Michael bt. Michael Osewa 6-4, 6-3
Emmanuel Ikakah bt. Suleiman Ibrahim 2-6, 6-1, 6-0
Charles Uwandu bt. Elisha Olowogbile 6-1, 6-0
Gabriel Friday bt. Aliyu Idris 6-0, 6-1
Isaac Attah bt. Musa Sani 6-2, 6-3
Women’s Singles – Final Qualifying Round
Omotayo Osewa bt. Rebecca Kwange 6-2, 6-0
Joy Sunday bt. Mercy Samuel 6-0, 6-0
Toyin Asogba bt. Ngozi Dirisu 1-6, 6-4, 6-3
Pauline Ebijimi bt. Juliet Enyi 6-0, 6-1
Blessing Danjuma bt. Zainab Abdulganiyu 6-0, 7-5
Ramota Odeyemi bt. Mariam Salami 6-2, 6-3
Khadijat Salami bt. Folashade Ogunshola 6-1, 6-1
Rose Abu bt. Faith Sunday 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
