Amassiani qualifies for two semis

Chukwudubem Amassiani from Abuja has emerged as a young tennis star to watch as he swept through his round-robin groups in the Boys 12 and 14s to qualify for two semi-finals at the ongoing CBN Junior Tennis Championship.

Amassiani, the 12 and Under champion on the junior circuit, was given a chance to play up one age group, a strategy used by the International Tennis Academy, organisers of the tournament, to fast-track the development of the top juniors. Amassiani will have for his opponent in the Boys 14s semis Seyi Ogunsakin, who was also given a slot in the 16s but could not make it through the group stage..

The winner of that match will play against the winner of the second semis between top seed David Edwards, just back from the African Junior Championships in Togo, and Sulaimon Samod from the host club.

The Iorlumun sisters Eunice and Mary, who emerged top of their groups, have been coincidentally drawn to meet in the semis of the Girls 16s. The other semi-final will feature Alice Paul from Ondo and Etioro Bassey from Akwa Ibom.

Nine year-old Karina Opuene from Bayelsa has been the attraction of the Girls 12 event as she showed tremendous skill and determination to win two matches in her group — one of which was a decisive 6-0 trashing of Barakat Ganiyu from Oyo State.

The tournament taking place at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club is scheduled to end on Saturday.