24th May, 2013
Nigeria’s hopes of progressing at the ongoing Wheelchair Tennis World Team Cup in Turkey was finally dashed as the players, Uwazie Jude and Alex Adewale lost to their Croatian counterparts 2-1 in the play offs.
Croatian Drazen Miksic proved too strong for Uwazie Jude as he won 6-3, 6-3 in the Men’s Singles yesterday, while Anto Joskic was no match for Alex Adewale as he dispatched the Nigerian 6-1, 6-3.
In the Men’s Doubles, Uwazie lived up to pre-tournament expectations as he partnered Alex to see off the Croatian pair of Drazen Miksic and Ninoslav Krsnik in two straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, but this victory could not help Nigeria’s qualification bid as the players had earlier lost too many matches prior to the doubles play-offs.
President of Nigeria Tennis Federation, NTF, Engr. Sani Ndanusa wasn’t happy that the team crashed out, but he was glad that they made a remarkable statement with their victory in the doubles event.
He lamented the absence of the country’s number one wheelchair tennis player, Wasiu Yusuf, as he believes that Wasiu would have fared better in the singles.
“It’s a pity that we lost out, but I’m really happy with how we defeated Croatia in two straight sets to win the doubles. If Wasiu were to be at the tourney, our performance in the singles might have been better,” he said.
—Damilare Okunola