Losing streak for Kenyans extend at ITF/CAT under-14 Africa Junior Championships
Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 25.02.25. | 16:16
The Kenyan was so disappointed with his performance that he left the court weeping
Kenyan teenager Ayaan Quadros surrendered a first-set lead to go down to Nigeria's Seyi Ebenezer 6/7 (4), 6-1, 6-0 as the ITF/CAT under-14 Africa Junior Championships entered its second day on Tuesday at Nairobi Club.
Quadros dominated the first set as his opponent struggled to settle down on playing in a clay court. The Kenyan fought for every ball and was the first to push the match to a tiebreak.
But after that, the Nigerian completely dominated the subsequent sets, breaking down his opponent’s serve at will.
The closest Quadros came to getting something from the match was in the fifth game of the second set when he ran to a 40-0 lead only for his opponent to recover and win the game and set.
But to his credit, Quadros held onto the fourth game of the second set making his opponent sweat for the point but he eventually succumbed and lost 6-0.
The Kenyan was so disappointed with his performance that he left the court weeping.
Kenyan coach George Oyoo said Quadros did not fight hard enough, especially after winning the first set and this denied him an opportunity to make a come-back.
“Tactically, we had everything planned out but after he won the first set, he did not fight hard enough. He had too many unforced errors and this cost him victory,” he said.
Oyoo, who gave the young Kenyan a pep talk during the breaks, pointed out that Quadros needed to have tried to win the first three games after claiming the first set.
“After you have won the first set, it is important to claim the first three games because it disorients your opponent. In this case, it did not happen. The opponent was quite solid, remained consistent and took his chances very well,” he said.
Ebenezer said he struggled in the first set because he is not used to playing on clay courts.
“Back in Nigeria, I train and play on hard courts and so it was hard for me to get used to the court at Nairobi Club but as the match progressed, I was able to adapt and give it my best,” he said.
Soulaimane Jamji from Morocco beat Dan Arck Muterampuwe from Burundi 6-1,6-2 while Zimbabwe's Muchengezi Manzungu was too good for Morocco's Yousef Hakim beating him 6-1, 6-2. Tanzania's Hadija Msangi also won her match after edging out Ewala Olive from Cameroon 6-1, 6-0.
