The inaugural edition of the OVH Energy tennis tournament held from August 28 – September 6 at the tennis section of the Ikoyi Club 1938 in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The 10-day event, which is a doubles competition and sponsored by OVH Energy, saw 54 players, including Godwin Kienka and football legend, Segun Odegbami, battle it out in different doubles categories.
In the men’s doubles A category, Godwin Kienka, the sprightly Director of the International Tennis Academy, and Kalada Kienka, who’s ranked No.1 in the club, defeated Ezomo Imoukhuede and Ishmael Nwokocha in straight sets to clinch the men’s doubles title.
Imoukhuede and Nwokocha had secured a 6-1, 7-6 semifinal win over the pair of Nishant Abbi and Bimbo Okubena, both of whom are ranked 2nd and 3rd in the club, respectively, while the Kienkas defeated Labisi Abayomi and Awokoya 6-3, 6-2 to reach the final.
However, in the final, it was the Kienkas who produced the cleaner performance to run out 7-5, 6-4 victors.
Brilliant as a partner in the men’s doubles, Kalada Kienka kept up the form in the mixed doubles, as he and his partner, Maryann Chuks, the No. 1 female player in the club, captured the mixed doubles titles, with victory over Bimbo Okubena, who’s the chairman of the tennis section of the club, and Sharon Momoh.
In the veteran doubles, Segun Odegbami, who wrought wonders in the early 70s and late 80s as a footballer and was famously dubbed ‘The Mathematical’ for his tactical playing style, handled the racket as he did a football, to emerge victorious in the category alongside Olaleye Olowe.