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Raphael Nii Nortei Dowuona is once again on the march towards success in the second week of the Tennis Foundation Ghana hosted International Tennis Federation (ITF) World Tour Juniors tournament ongoing in Accra, after edging through to the quarter finals on Wednesday.

Featuring players from over 40 countries, the points accumulation competition began on September 9 and is scheduled to run for six consecutive weeks.

Two weeks of J30 boys and girls singles and well as doubles started last week, to be followed by four weeks of J60 events beginning September 23.

There are 30 points on offer for winners of J-30 singles and 60 for the J-60 tournament, with the doubles winners slashing the points equally, 15 and 30 for both events respectively, for six straight weeks in Accra.

Young Dowuona, emerged winner of Week 1 after defeating number 2 seed, Jimoh Franklin of Nigeria 6-4, 0-6, 6-4 in the final at the National Tennis Centre inside the Accra Sports Stadium last Saturday.

But the young Ghanaian is not distracted and remains focused on achieving more success in pursuit of more accumulated points in his quest to qualify for the junior grand slams, and steps closer towards competing at the highest level.

“I wasn’t surprised to win, I prepared well and always hoped that I could win my first junior title in my country. So I was really happy for emerging the winner,” Dowuona told Graphic Online.

“I really want to play the Juniors (grand slam), so I’m doing my best to gain more points during these six weeks. So if I make the final again this week, then I will shift attention to the J-60s which begin next week,” he stressed.

True to his word, Raphael Dowuona who also finished tops of the doubles competition, returned strongly in Week 2 of the Tennis Foundation Ghana Open ITF J30 Accra, recording a resounding 6-0, 6-1 victory over Rohan Karthik Vunnam in the opening round on Monday. He advanced into the second round where once again, Dowuona triumphed.

“I am trying my best to do the same as last week, I’m playing my best fighting for each and every point in every match. I just do what I did last week, just play my best and win my matches,” he said after dispatching off number 4 ranked Finlay Whitrow of Great Britain 6-4, 7-6 (3) on Wednesday to qualify for the last 8.

Also through to the quarter finals are number 3 seed, Mubarak Ayodeji Ganiyu of Nigeria after Jesse Frank of Great Britain retired in their round of 16 tie, Aditya Mor of India who beat Ghana’s Donatus Nyaaba 6-1, 6-0 and Week 1 runner-up, Joseph Franklin Jimoh who also defeated Benin’s Rodriguez Beni Gandonou 6-3, 6-3.

Accra ITF Juniors World Tour Week 2: Ghana’s Rafael Dowuona through to quarter finals https://t.co/BaT9ni367q pic.twitter.com/vewob8SnjI

— DailyGraphic GraphicOnline (@Graphicgh) September 19, 2024

Others are number 8 seed, Sami Hayes of Morocco who came from a set down to defeat Showrya Samala of India 4-6, 7-5, 6-4,
Mawuko Francois-Xavier Gakpo of Togo, a 6-4, 6-3 winner over number 7 seed, Aarav Chawla of India, and of course the number one seed,
Ikenna Prosper Okonkwo of Nigeria who saw off Harel Tarshish of Israel 6-4, 7-5.

Tennis Foundation Ghana President and Tournament Organiser, Roger Crawford previously hailed the essence of the Ghanaian capital hosting such international competition as well as the advantages it offers such young players.

“We are proud that Accra is the only place on the junior calendar which hosts six weeks of competition at the same location. This also helps players from all over the world with the cost of traveling to different cities every other week searching for points,” Mr. Crawford said.

Meanwhile the Week 2 action continues on Thursday with the quarter finals and others of boys and girls singles and doubles at the Accra Sports Stadium.