Abayomi Philip’s victory over former national champion Uche Oparaoji has proved to be the biggest result on Day 4 of the ongoing Rainoil National Tennis Open in Lagos.
Philip, a former top national junior player, appeared battle-ready against the tournament’s number two seed, despite losing the first set 3-6.
The second set proved decisive as he stunned his opponent with a hard-fought 7-5 win, forcing a final-set decider.
With momentum on his side, Philip, who trains at Mainland Tennis Club in Lagos, dominated the last set and secured a 6-3 victory as his supporters cheered.
For a place in the semi-finals, he must defeat fellow Mainlander, Matthew Abamu, in their quarter-final match on Friday.
Meanwhile, Christopher Bulus and his teammates from the 2025 Davis Cup World Group II Playoffs in South Africa swiftly progressed to the quarter-finals of the Rainoil event.
Bulus, the tournament’s top seed, defeated the powerful Endurance Ehigiamusoe 6-2, 6-1.
Canice Abua beat Lucky Danjuma 6-2, 6-4, while Michael Emmanuel overcame Yusuf Abubakar 6-2, 6-2.
In the Women’s Singles, Etoro Bassey of GEUF Tennis Academy in Akwa Ibom forced top seed Omolayo Bamidele to retire after leading 6-3, 4-0 in the second set.
Abuja-based Success Ogunjobi defeated veteran Stella Udokwelu in two entertaining sets, winning 6-4, 6-2, to set up a quarter-final clash with Bassey.
Number one seed and Nigeria’s top female player, Khadijat Mohammed, defeated Destiny Okhinaye 6-0, 7-6(1) to secure a quarter-final match against Patience Onebamhoin.
Onebamhoin, a senior player, impressed in her second-round match against Khadijat Salami, winning 6-2, 6-2 to continue her strong run in the tournament.
The quarter-finals are already underway at the tennis section of Ikoyi Club, Lagos.
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