Israel’s Romi Cohen, on Thursday, whipped Ozi-oiza Yakubu of Nigeria 6-0, 7-5 to qualify for the singles semifinals of the ongoing J5 World Tennis Championships in Abuja.

The match was played in the second leg of the ITF Tennis World Tour J5 Abuja, which commenced on November 24 will end on November 28 at the tennis complex of the Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

“My performance was better than the previous week that I played, I worked and fought hard to deserve this victory. Defeating my opponent was a great task. My plan is to win the tournament’s finals,” said Cohen. “I did a good calculation, and I hope to lift the trophy this time around. I will put my best to hit my target.”

Cohen added that she would devote time perfecting her tactics for Friday’s semifinal match against either Ohunene Yakubu of Nigeria or Joody Elkady of Egypt in the singles category.

In another female singles category, Ohunene Yakubu beat Rebecca Ekpenyong 6-1, 6-1 to qualify for the semifinals.

In the male singles category round of 16, Lucky Danjuma defeated Marshall Hulett of South Africa 6-3, 6-4, while Mukhtar Andu of Great Britain beat Desmond Ayaaba of Ghana 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.

In another match played in the male doubles category, Daniel Crowie and Marshall Hulett (both from South Africa) defeated Nigeria’s duo of Jibril Adamu and Isaac Danjuma 7-5, 6-3 in round 16.

Emmanuel Jebutu and Chika Nwaozuzu of US flogged Fortune Joseph and Yassine Mahmah of Morocco 6-3, 6-1 in round 16.

Forty-five players from Nigeria (host), Canada, the U.S., Israel, Egypt, Morocco, Ghana, and South Africa are participating in the championships.

(NAN)