By Francis Ajuonuma
Henry Atseye and Oyinlomo Quadri once again proved that they are the best Clay court tennis players in the country following resounding victories at the final of the 2021 Rainoil Tennis Open decided on Saturday at the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja.
Quadri, who came game into the game as defending champion beat number one seed, Marylove Edwards in two straight sets of 6/4, 9/1 to retain the title she won in 2019
Speaking at the end of the energy-sapping encounter, Quadri noted that she’s happy retaining the title despite seven months of lay-off.
“I’m really happy winning this tournament after coming back from injury. It was not an easy game because there was a lot of tension, but I played my best game and won against an equally good opponent”, she said.
In her own remarks, Marylove admitted playing against a very good player; saying that she tried her best, but her best was not enough to dethrone her.
“It was a very good game and both of us put in our best, but the better player won.
Later in the men’s singles final, Atseye defeated defending champion and number one seed, Joseph Imeh by two straight sets of 7/6(7/4), 6/2 to become the new champion.
In the men’s doubles event, Mathew Abamu and Michael Chima defeated Henry Atseye and Nnoso Madueke to emerge, winners, while the women’s doubles was won by Omolayo Bamidele and Oyinlomo Quadri.
Speaking after receiving his trophy and prize money, Atseye appreciated Rainoil for supporting tennis in the country, pointing out that the Rainoil Tennis Open offers Nigerian players the opportunity to get exposed to clay.
Group Managing Director of Rainoil, Dr. Gabriel Ogbechie in his remarks said that tennis is a sport he is so passionate about, noting that if it is invested in, it will help young Nigerians make a very decent living
He urged the players to be more dedicated and committed in order to improve on their game and thanked Lagos Country Club for being a good host.
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“Rainoil is proud to be associated with tennis. I’m passionate about the game and this is our own effort in developing tennis in the country.
“We believe that tennis is a sport which can make our youths self-reliance and I’m encouraging our youth to take to the game of tennis as they stand to gain a lot from it,” he said.
Winners in the men and women’s singles went home with N600, 000 and 500,000 respectively, while their runners-up got N300,000 and N250,000 respectively. Winners of the men’s and women’s doubles went home with N600,000 and N500,000 respectively.
