Nigeria’s top-ranked female tennis player, Marylove Edwards, is pleased to have ended 2022 on a winning note after she emerged champion in the women’s singles and doubles event at the just concluded Rainoil Tennis Open at the Ikoyi Club 1938 in Lagos, The PUNCH reports.
The one-week tourney saw Edwards defeat her opponent, Anu Ayegbusi, in two sets after she (Ayegbusi) bowed out of the game during the second round.
She also partnered with Ayegbusi in the women’s double to defeat the duo Toyin Asogba and Blessing Omotayo 6-0, 6-2.
The tournament had a total of 144 top players selected from different parts of Nigeria.
“I’m delighted to have won the singles and in the doubles event, winning is all that matters and I’m happy to end the year on this note,” she said.
In the men’s singles, David Ekpenyong won the grand prize of N1.5m after he edged Uche Oparaoji, 7-6(4), 6-1. Ekpenyong also paired Oparaoji in the doubles event to beat the duo Biron Albert and Madueke Nonso 6-3, 4-6, 10-8.
Meanwhile, the Group Managing Director of Rainoil Limited, Gabriel Ogbechie, said the investment of Rainoil in tennis is born out of his passion for the game and the desire to provide platforms for young ones to love the game and make a decent living from it.
“Tennis is a game that is capable of lifting the young ones out of poverty and bringing them into prosperity. Top tennis players in the world have won over $100m in prize money alone and Nigerians can rise to that level in the game if they are well developed.”
Ogbechie also decried the absence of officials of the Nigeria Tennis Federation at the tournament.
“The custodian of the game in Nigeria the Nigeria Tennis Federation should show support and encouragement to any organisation that shows any iota of interest in the game,” he continued
“As the highest paying tournament in Nigeria, the NTF should have shown support for the Rainoil Tennis Open with their presence.”
The Chairman of the Tennis Section of Ikoyi Club 1938, Akeem Mustafa, commended Rainoil Limited for the successful outcome of the event and the support of the game of tennis by Rainoil.
“Rainoil Limited has over the years demonstrated unusual passion and support for tennis and has consistently increased the winnings of the tournament, thereby building interest in the game. He urged the management of Rainoil not to relent in their support of the game,” he said.
