Tournament number one seed, Marylove Edwards says she is set for a showdown against Oyinlomo Quadre in the women’s ongoing CBN Senior Tennis Open Championship in Abuja.
Edwards who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after thrashing Mary Tenu-Micheal 6-0, 6-0 in her third round match on Thursday said she was anxiously looking forward to another semifinals battle against Quadre.
NAN reports that both Edwards and Quadre had met in the semifinals of the 2022 DavNotch Tennis Open where the later won 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 at the end of a grueling three set encounter.
“Upset happens and if you play your best tennis and lay it all out there in the court, you never can tell; it could be your day.
“I was really disappointed with the outcome of the match when I met her (Quadre) at the semifinals of the DavNotch Open last week because I believed the game was mine.
“It was really close, but I made a lot of unforced errors here and there, especially in the first set which caused me the game at the end.
“I also started late from the first set as I wasn’t patient enough and failed to hold my serve in the second.
“I was carried away at some point in the game when things started going my way and forgot about executing my strategy for the game.
“I often played the ball in my opponent’s box instead of pushing it to the base line which gave her more attacking options.
“Overall, it was a 50/50 game but I hope to correct all my mistakes and execute my strategy perfectly heading into yet another eminent semis showdown with her,” she said.
Results of other third round matches also played on Thursday saw tournament’s number three seed and winner of the just concluded DavNotch Open, Quadre breeze past Jesutoyosi Adeusi 6-1, 6-1.
Rebecca Ekpenyong dismissed Bunmi Are in two straight sets 6-1, 6-3 to set up a quarterfinal uphill battle against Quadre.
Stella Udokwelu made light work of a challenge from Esther Olamide beating her 6-2, 6-2 to set up a last eight explosive encounter against fourth seed Oiza Yakubu.
Yakubu had earlier ended wildcard Salamatu Haruna’s fairytale run in the championship with a 6-2, 6-1 whitewash.
Also, tournament’s number two seed had to dig deep against a hard-fighting Ohunene Yakubu 6-3, 1-6, 7-5 to book a spot in the quarterfinals at the end of an energy-sapping encounter.
The 44th edition of the CBN Senior Tennis Tourney which served off on Monday with Round One fixtures at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium is expected to end on Saturday. (NAN)
•PHOTO: Marylove Edwards
