Japheth suffers defeat at Accra Seniors Open tournament
There was a major upset at this year’s Accra Seniors Open Tennis Tournament as one of Ghana’s top seeds, Japheth Bagerbaseh, suffered a shocking defeat at the Accra Lawn Tennis court last Saturday.
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Pre-tournament favourite, Bagarbaseh struggled throughout the final as he was unable to contain the hard-serving Nicholas Kumadey in the Men semi-professional singles final in the 30-40 years’ category.
At the end, Kumadey triumphed beating the Ghanaian top see 6-1, 6-2 in a game that got most people wondering why Bagerbaseh had to lose in that fashion.
There was equally a thrilling game in the 41 years plus age category with Uwe Gneiting showing up strongly to beat Prince Ablorh 6-4, 7-6(3) to win the category.
Nicholas Nartey was also the toast of the fans after beating Godwin Dankwa 6-3, 6-4 to be crowned champion in the Men’s Singles final.
Nartey who was playing in the 25-34 age category displayed enough dexterity and gave his contender no chance on the Accra Lawn Tennis court last Saturday.
Although occasionally Dankwa showed glimpses of recovery with his strong serves and ability to return most of the shorts by Nartey, he eventually could not match the pace and strength of the eventual winner.
The situation was similar in the Mens 35-44 years’ category where James Wiafe proved too strong for Dr Abraham Oppong.
At the end Wiafe prevailed by winning the game in two straight sets of 6-4, 7-5 while in the Men’s 45-54 category it was Alex Kobina Mensah who defeated Jesse Desbordes 2-6, 6-4, 10-6 after a fierce contest.
For the 55-64 years’ category, David Carreras beat George Mills 4-0 (R), while an interesting contest was witnessed between Nico Foekema and Maxi Gadegbeku in the Men’s 65 years plus and at the end Foekema prevailed 7-6,6-2.
In the ladies under 39 Singles, Precious Nunana beat Kate Coleman 6-3,61, in the 40-49 category, Evelyn Enunwah had a walk over on Emily Stoiber, while in the age 50 plus category, Faustina Tagoe berat Yaa Jesiwaa Quansah 7-5, 6-2.
The Mens Double 35-44 category also witnessed George Keckson and Richard Odom Mensah beat Frederick Kenderick Atsu and Oheneba Amoako 7-6(4), 6-2. The 45-54 years’ category, a combination of Godwin Ayindua and Amoako Atta beat William Amoo and Frederick Okpoti Konney 6-0, 6-0.
