Nigeria’s men master of Clay Henry Atseye and Women number one player Oyinlomo Quadre has been crowned winners of this year’s Rainoil Tennis Open Championship.

Held at the Clay Court of the Lagos Country Club, In the men’s singles final Henry Atseye proved why he is the master of Clay in Nigeria as he defeated defending champion and number one seed, Joseph Imeh by two straight sets of 7/6(7/4), 6/2 to emerge the winner.

Speaking after receiving his trophy and prize money, Atseye appreciated Rainoil for supporting tennis in the country, pointing out that the Rainoil Tennis Open offers Nigerian players the opportunity to get exposed to clay.

Also, defending women champion of the annual Rainoil tennis Open championship, Oyinlomo Quadre retained her title after beating no 1 seed, Marylove Edwards in two straight sets.

Quadre, who came into the tournament as second seed after about seven months lay-off due to injury, proved too hard a nut for her opponent to crack as she dominated all the sets to end the ambition of Marylove Edwards whom she was meeting for the first time in her career and ended the game at 6-4, 6-1.

Speaking at the end of the energy sapping encounter, Quadre noted that she is happy retaining the title despite seven months of lay-off.

“I’m really happy winning this tournament after coming back from injury. It was not an easy game because there was a lot of tension but I played my best game and won against an equally good opponent,” she said.

In her own remarks, Marylove admitted playing against a very good player; saying that she tried her best but her best was not enough to dethrone her.

“It was a very good game and both of us put in our best but the better player won. In the men’s doubles event, Mathew Abamu and Michael Chima defeated Henry Atseye and Nnoso Madueke to emerge winners, while the women’s doubles was won by Omolayo Bamidele and Oyinlomo Quadre.

The Group Managing Director of Rainoil, Dr. Gabriel Ogbechie, in his remarks said that tennis is a sports he is so passionate about, noting that if it is invested in, it will help young Nigerians make a very decent living.

He urged the players to be more dedicated and committed in order to improve on their game and thanked Lagos Country Club Ikeja for being a good host.

“Rainoil is proud to be associated with tennis. I’m passionate about the game and this is our own effort in developing tennis in the country.

“We believe that tennis is a sport which can make our youths self reliant and I’m encouraging our youth to take to the game of tennis as they stand to gain a lot from it,” he said.

Also speaking the president of Lagos country club, Arc Funmi Bamkole, appreciated the Rainoil group for the continuous sponsorship of the tennis tournament in the country. He called on all corporate organisations to emulate Rainoil’s social investment strategy in sponsoring sports events in the country that will engage the youths positively.

Winners in the men and women’s singles went home with N600,000 and 500,000 respectively, while their runners-up got N300,000 and N250,000 respectively. Winners of the men and women’s doubles went home with N600,000 and N500,000 respectively.

•PHOTO: L-R President of Lagos country club, Arc Funmi Bamkole, Henry Atseye, Winner of tennis tournament men’s singles final and the Group Managing Director of Rainoil, Dr. Gabriel Ogbechie, presenting trophy to the winner of Rainoil Tennis Open Championship

Update news