Two tennis players, Joseph Imeh and Sylvester Emmanuel, have qualified for the quarterfinals in their respective games in the ongoing Rainoil Tennis Open, men single defending champion.
Christian Paul, who was seeded 13, Imeh had to dig in deep to win at 7/6 (3), 5/1 to move closer to the title race.
It was at a tight first set, and Paul’s level tailed off in the second set as he retired due to injury.
Imeh’s opponent in Friday’s quarterfinal fixtures will be Godsgift Timibra, who advanced at the expense of Clifford Enosoregbe.
Enosoregbe had carved out an early break against Timibra in the third game of the first set at 1-2.
While serving in the fourth game, the former national champion double faulted for 40-40 and reacted quite angrily, hitting the ball to the other side of the court where it met Timibra.
It was a different ball game for Emmanuel as he had an easy game playing against Paul Emmanuel, who he outplayed in two straight sets of 6/3, 6/2, to keep his hope of adding the Rainoil Tennis Open crown to the CBN title he won in June.
Also, through to the quarter-finals are Chima Michael and Thomas.
