ITF J60 Accra final: Okonkwo earns revenge over Adeleye

THE Nigerian dominance in the boys singles of the ongoing International Tennis Federation (ITF) Juniors World Tour J60 tournament continued as Prosper Ikenna Okonkwo battled past David Adeleye, in a 7-6, 6-4 victory during last Saturday's final in Accra.

Number three seed Okonkwo, who missed Week 1 but claimed the title after showing up in Week Two, became the first to win both J30 and J60 events during the Week 6 competition, which concluded last Saturday.

This means all three weeks of the J60 competition have witnessed an all-Nigerian decider after Adeleye claimed the first two titles by beating Lucky Danjuma and Okonkwo but just fell short of making it three in a row against his determined countryman.

Hosted by Tennis Foundation Ghana at the National Tennis Centre at the Accra Sports Stadium, the unpredictability of the girls' division continued as number one seed, Sasha Natalie Chimedza of Zimbabwe finally made her top rating count after defeating Week Three winner and number two seed, Alisha Ndukwu of Great Britain, 6-4, 6-1 in the final, for a third different winner in three weeks of J60 competition after India's Diya Chaudhary won both weeks of J30 competition.

Despite losing the singles title, Adeleye made sure he still finished the week victorious by partnering Ori Hillel of India to claim the boys' doubles crown after ousting the Nigerian pair they lost to in the Week 3 final, Prosper Okonkwo and Joseph Franklin Jimoh.

There was, however, a repeat of champions in the girls' doubles as singles titlist, Sasha Natalie Chimedze and Lamiss Houas of Tunisia, retained their doubles championship by beating a familiar opponent, Sisu Tomegah of Ghana and Iriela Rajaobelina of Madagascar 6-3, 6-3.