Nigeria’s number one tennis player, Abdulmumini Babalola.
Nigeria’s number one tennis star, Abdulmumin Babalola attributed his quarterfinal defeat by Henry Atseye at the Rainoil National Tennis Open Championship to an eye injury he suffered in the course of the game.
Babalola was full of appreciation for the fans for their care and support during his quarterfinal tie against Atseye yesterday at the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja.
The top seed, who won the 2017 CBN Open, cruised to a 6-3 first set win over Atseye, but could not keep his foot on the pedal no thanks to an eye injury he sustained as he was leaving the court for a toilet break after the first set.
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He received a long treatment on the sidelines, but by the time he returned for the second set, he was struggling to keep pace with Atseye, who dominated and won the second set 6-0, forcing the tie into final set.
Atseye took control of the third set, which he won 6-2 to move to the last-four.
Babalola said, “I was playing with blurred sight and I could hardly see the ball again. I wanted to quit after the second set but the fans’ support kept me going. Though I lost the match, I am marveled at the support I got from the fans. I really thank them for their love.”
In the women’s singles, Dala Hard Court champion, Blessing Samuel also justified her second seed rating as she powered to a 6-1 6-2 win over Loveth Donatus, a fellow Abuja-based player. She is joined in the semifinal by Patience Onebamhoin, who progressed at the expense of Blessing Anuna, the latter retiring after trailing 2-0 in the opening set.
Women top seed, Sarah Adegoke is confident of winning the title as a final showdown with Samuel, her conqueror at Dala Hard Court looms large.
“I will like to play her (Samuel) again,” she said when asked if she would like a repeat of their final meeting in Kano last month.
Source: G Sport
