Canice Abua, the top seed in the FHA Tennis Club Invitational Masters for the top eight players in Nigeria, struggled past Yusuf Abubakar in his first round robin match,
Abua breezed through the first set 6-1 but got a stiffer challenge from Abubakar who clinched the second 6-3.
The 10 point match tie-break decider was a seesaw up to 9-9 before Abua’s match experience helped him to win the next two points to take the match.
Second seed and lead of the White Group, Daniel Adeleye, also went three sets against Mathew Abamu but came through 6-2, 1-6, 10-5.
The story was different for Ikechukwu Iloputa, the third seed, who recorded an emphatic 6-1. 6-3 win over Yahaya Sani -Inabo.
In the ladies matches, top seed, Blessing Omotayo defeated Mary Udofa 6-2, 6-2; Bright Emmanuel Essien beat Omolayo Bamidele 6-3, 6-2 while Etoro Bassey won a long drawn-out match against Patience Onebamhoin 6-2, 2-6, 10-6.
The matches were preceded by a brief opening ceremony led by Euriel Chukwudum, Chairman Dennis Hotel Group and elders of the club.
