International Tennis Federation World Juniors Tour Accra resumes with Week 4 action
The International Tennis Federation World Juniors Tour tournament ongoing in Ghana resumed on Monday with a competition for points in Week 4 of the 6-week event.
Following the conclusion last Saturday of Week 3 which was the first J60 competition following two preceding weeks of J30 action at the National Tennis Centre inside the Accra Sports Stadium, the second week of 4 straight J60 tournaments got underway with the round of 32 ties.
In the event, Week 2 boys champ, Ikenna Prosper Okonkwo beat Illia Mehrabani of Iran 6-1,6-1 whilst his countryman and doubles mate, Joseph Franklin Jimoh overcame Togo’s Mawuko Francois-Xavier Gapko of Togo 6-0, 6-1.
The women’s singles round of 32 did not go well for Ghana as Benedicta Kotey was roasted 6-0, 6-0 by high flying Indian, Diya Chaudhary who has won two tournaments and finished runner-up in the other so far in Accra.
Other girls round of 32 winners include Mazamesso Grace Tchamous of Togo who defeated Nigeria’s Bisola Theresa Ogunkolade
6-2, 6-0, Ahuo Marie Ange Kouakuo of Ivory Coast, a 6-2, 6-1 straight sets winner over Toluwalasha Agunbiade of Nigeria and Raja Sarvagnya Kilaru of India who routed another Nigerian, Idowu Favour Godwin, 6-0, 6-0.
Hosted by Tennis Foundation Ghana, last week’s action saw the boys competition dominated by Nigeria with number 2 seed, Daniel Adeleye seeing off compatriot Lucky Danjuma 6-2, 6-3 in the singles final, before succumbing with his Israeli partner, Ori Hillel in the doubles final to Nigerian duo, Ikenna Prosper Okonkwo and Joseph Franklin Jimoh.
In the girls’ singles final, number one seed, Alisha Ndukwu of Great Britain overpowered Diya Chaudhary 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 in three sets lasting nearly 3 and half hours to deny the Indian who had won both J30 events, top spot for the third week running.
Following an abysmal week for Ghana’s top player, Raphael Dowuona in both boys singles and doubles, top girls star, Sisu-Makena Tomegah provided some redemption for the host nation by again partnering Iriela Rajaobelina of Madagascar to tame the pair of Alisha Ndukwu of Great Britain and India’s Raja Sarvagnya Kilaru 6-4,6-4 in the girls doubles final to record a tournament victory for the second straight week.
The Tennis Foundation Ghana ITF J60 Accra Week 4 meanwhile continues on Tuesday with the round of 16 as the race to see who gains the most points at the end of Week 4 intensifies.