Wednesday, 16 June, 2021 was a great day for Nigeria at the ongoing Billie Jean Cup as her representatives performed overwhelmingly against their counterparts from Kosovo.
This is Nigeria’s first ever participation in the tournament formerly known as the Fed Cup, the female version of the Davis Cup tournament.
Newsbreak reports that the first Nigerian to ever win a Fed Cup match for th country is America-based Adesuwa Osabuohien, who defeated Donika Bashuta of Kosovo in straight of. 6-1, 6-4 at the SEB Arena Vilnius, Lithuania. This match was one of Europe/Africa III Pool C games decided today at the all-women championship.
Born on 24 October 1994, Osabuohien is ranked number 980 in the world in the doubles event.
Quadre Barakat Oyinlomo was so great in her match against another Kosovo’s player, Lekoj Adrijana, who she beat 6-2, 4-6, 6-0 game. 18-year-old Quadre is on number 955 in the singles ranking, while she 1510 in doubles ranking.
The duo of Osabuohien and Quadre also did well in the doubles event as they triumphed over the pairs of Bashoka and Lekoj in straight set of 6-2,6-1 on Wednesday afternoon.
In the first series of matches in Pool C, which Nigeria played against Lithuania went the way of the hosts on Tuesday at the same venue. Osabuohien fought so hard before losing one of the Singles matches to Iveta Dakpute, who had to come back from a set down to beat the Nigerian girl 4-6, 6-2, 6-4. The Nigerians also fought well but lost narrowly in the doubles against the hosts in 4-6, 5-7 game.
Newsbreak reports that 21 nations are competing at the SEB Arena in Vilnius, Lithuania
They include Nigeria, Algeria, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia Herzegovina, Cyprus, Ghana, Iceland, Ireland, Kenya, Kosovo, Lithuania, Malta, Montenegro, Namibia, North Macedonia, Norway, Rwanda, South Africa, Zimbabwe.
The tournament is being played in round robin format. There are five groups of four teams and one group of three teams. The group winners will contest a play-offs draw to determine which two teams are promoted to Europe/Africa II at the end of the day.
The hard court tournament is holding from 15-19 June, 2021 in Lithuania. Countries such as Botswana, Congo, Gabon, Madagascar, Mauritius, Morocco, and Uganda withdrew from the competition.
