Abuja ITF Futures: Tough Draws For Nigerian Players

Damilare Okunola/Abuja

The Tombim Abuja ITF Futures has served off Monday, 27 April, with Nigerian players having to cope with really tough fixtures to stand a chance of progressing to the second round of the maiden edition of the tournament.

P.M.NEWS Sports correspondent at the Package B of the National Stadium, Abuja, where the international tournament is presently being hosted, reports that virtually all the Nigerian players have higher ranked players to deal with in the first round of the competition.

In some matches to be decided this morning, Henry Atseye will play against Kevin Borges Pereira (Brazil), Thomas Otu will spar against Stefan Merunka (Croatia) while 2014 Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship winner, Moses Michael will do battle against Kokou Missodey (Togo)

In other fixtures, Okechukwu Michael takes on Aaron Cortes Alcaraz (Spain), Joseph Imeh, with yet the toughest of the pairings, will look to upset tournament’s number six seed, Deiton Baughman (USA), Bikom Albert will tackle Kshitij Kamal (India) and Nigeria’s number one male tennis player, Clifford Enosoregbe, will look to get past 2014 Governor’s Cup losing finalist, Duncan Mugabe (Uganda).

In the Doubles event, Imeh and long time partner, Mohammed Mohammed will have their hands full when they play number three seeded pair of Crowley Keith-Patrick (South Africa) and Song Eva (USA) while Ikechukwu Iloputa and Okechukwu Michael will look to get the better of Cooper Joe (Great Britain) and Vorster Tucker (South Africa).

Meanwhile, the Nigerian players are Upbeat about their chances of progressing to the next stage of the competition despite the seeming difficult ties.
Enosoregbe stated that: “I believe that if I play my game, I can defeat any player. Therefore, I do not see myself going out in the first round of this competition. I will give it my best shot and make sure I come out tops at the end of the day.”

Atseye also noted that it is a game of tennis, where anybody could win irrespective of the players’ rating as there is always room for upsets.