Nigeria’s Oyinlomo Moves Up ITF Ranking Again, Now Rated No. 2 In Africa

Nigeria’s Oyinlomo Quadre has for the second successive week risen significantly in the ITF ranking for junior players.

According to the new ranking released by the world’s tennis governing body on Monday April 29, the Morocco-based youngster climbed 26 places to 176 in the world making her the second placed African just behind Nahimana Sada of Burundi, who is ranked at 28 in the world.

Oyinlomo Quadre poses with ITF officials in Tunisia

This development is coming barely one week after Quadre’s unprecedented ITF Grade 3 Junior Circuit win in Tunisia, which shot her up from 320 in the world to 202, one of the biggest movements in junior tennis in recent years.

Since her feat in Tunisia, Quadre, who will clock 16 on May 1, has stepped up the gear as highlighted in her recent engagement in the Grade 2 tournament in Algeria, where she defeated Ines Bekrar of Algeria in the second round at the 13th Tournoi International Juniors de Tlemcen Algeria.

Although she couldn’t go beyond the quarterfinals in the singles, the right-handed double-handed backhand player went as far as the final in the doubles which was enough to fetch her more points on the global log.

She is scheduled to feature in more Grade 2 tournaments across North Africa in the coming weeks in her bid to get into the top 100 rankings which is her primary target for the year.

Lagos Open Tennis: Oyinlomo Bags Wild Card

Oyinlomo Quadre’s second round feat at the first week of the Lagos Open Tennis International Championship has earned her another wild card ticket in the final leg of the $100, 000 prizes money event.

It was scooped that that the 14-year-old star prospect was the overwhelming choice for one of the few wild cards reserved for Nigerians in the concluding leg which would commence with two qualifying stages on Saturday (today).

“She played very well despite the fact that she could only reach the second round but it was obvious that she was our most impressive player and this is the key reason why we will give her another wild card,” an NTF technical official said on Friday, pleading anonymity.

The official also disclosed no fewer then 12 players have requested for the wild cards which automatically seals a spot in the main draw – guaranteeing prize money.

Meanwhile, Oyinlomo’s coach, Abel Ubiebi, is hoping for a lucky draw ahead of the second week.

Ubiebi declared that that the former Morocco-based player is in her best form of the year but was quick to add that the youngster would need a fair draw to reach her quarterfinal target.

“Oyin is playing great tennis as she is in her best form of the year but she need a fair draw because of the calibre of foreign players that are here especially from Europe.

“She showed great composure as well as a big fighting spirit against the fifth seed last week. Hopefully, she will cone against lesser rated opponents before the quarterfinals,” the Aces Tennis Club chief coach said.

Lukman Ologunro

Lagos Open Tennis: Oyinlomo Quadre Fails 2nd Round Test

Oyinlomo Quadre failed in her bid to reach her quarterfinal target at the ongoing Lagos Open Tennis Championship following a 6-2, 6-3 lost to Ukrainian Valeriya Strakhova on Wednesday.

Playing against the third seed, the 14-year-old star prospect puts up a courageous performance winning two games in the opening set where she remarkably hit some winners to the delight of the home crowd who rooted for her all through the match played on Court Four of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.

In the second set, Strakhova, the right handed double backhand world number 288, could not establish a break in the first four games and it looked like the Nigerian underdog will stretch her a bit this time but she managed to get a break in the fifth game and from that point there was no way back for the Aces Tennis Club player as the European wrapped up the tie 6-3.

“I’m happy with my performance because I wanted a scoreline that won’t make me feel embarrassed. I knew it was going to be very tough playing against her,” the wild card player said, adding that she is looking up to the second week with the aim of improving on her second round showing.

In other women’s singles ties, fifth-seeded Nestja Kolar of Slovania defeated Merel Hoedt of the Netherlands 6-3, 6-1 while Tereza Mihalikova of Slovakia moved to the quarterfinals following a 6-3, 6-2 win over Zoe Kruger of South Africa. They are joined by Estelle Cascino of France and second seed Deniz Khazaniuk of Israel who all advanced at the expense of Claudia Coppola of Italy and Rosalie van der Hoek of the Netherlands.

In the men’s singles, the seeded players had a field day battling their way past the second round with second seeded Benjamin Lock of Zimbabwe leading the victory line following a 6-4 6-3 triumph over Aziz Ouakaa of Tunisia.

Brit Lloyd Glasspool, Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech and Ukrainian Danylo Kalenichenko, the third, fourth and fifth seeds all progressed with 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-3, 6-2 and 6-1, 6-0 wins over Skandar Mansour of Tunisia, Hugo Largo of Spain, and Arnaud Sewanou of Benin respectively.

Indian sixth seed, Niki Poonachia wriggled his way past the challenge of Alexis Klegou of Benin 7-6, 4-6, 6-3 while Aryan Goveas, the seventh seed from India stop Diego Matos of Brazil 6-3 retired. Jack Drapper of Britain proved the formbook right as the eight seed coaseted to a 6-2, 6-2 win over Lance-Peirre Du Toit of South Africa.

The quarterfinals of the two-leg $100, 000 prize-money tournament hold on Thursday.