Lagos Open Tennis 1st Leg: Nigeria’s Oyinlomo Bows Out Gallantly, Says Ukrainian Opponent Better Than Me

To Nigerian teenage player, Barakat Oyinlomo Quadre, her defeat in the second round of the ongoing Lagos Open Tennis 2018 on Wednesday was not because she played badly; but she lost to the superior techniques of her opponent, Valeriya Strakhova from Ukraine. 

Oyinlomo was the only Nigerian standing in the second round of the women’s singles after all of her compatriots were sent packing in the first round of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) approved competition at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.

The result against Valeriya was not surprising to many tennis pundits, but she was seen as a gallant loser being a teenage player who is playing in a pro circuit tournament for the first time and fought her way to the second round of the Main Draws, a level meant for the experienced and professional players.

Valeriya beat the Nigerian girl 6-2, 6-3.

“It was a very good match and I played very well. She is way ahead of me as a professional. I’m still an amateur at the senior level. I was playing amazingly well and I don’t think there’s anything wrong the techniques but I will say she is a better player mentally because she was able to get the important points.

“So mentally, she was a professional and has gotten used to this kind of situation. It was a good match and I learnt so much today,” Oyinlomo said.

Speaking about how she lost the game, she said: “I went into the match without any fear; I went in with so much confidence and ready to fight, ignoring the fact that my opponent is the number three seed in the tournament or she is world number 200. I just kept going. It wasn’t that I couldn’t hit the ball or that I couldn’t return the serves and the stroke, it was just a mental thing and that’s very important in tennis. I hope I can improve in that area.”

Meanwhile, top seeds in both men and women events, Tom Jomby of France and Conny Perrin from Switzerland respectively continued their winning ways in their matches in the second round on Wednesday. Jomby defeated Tyler Lu of USA in 7-6(4), 6-2 game. The Frenchman will play Indian’s Aryan Goveas for a place in the semifinals on Thursday, while former champion, Perrin beat Clothilde De Bernardi 6-1, 3-6, 6-2., while former champion, Perrin beat Clothilde De Bernardi 6-1, 3-6, 6-2.

The first leg (Futures 4) of the Lagos Open Tennis will reach its quarter final stage on Thursday with the final of the leg coming up on Saturday.