Top seed Menford crushes out of Areeba Open Championship

Accra, Dec 13, GNA - Top seed Owusu Menford on Tuesday, crushed out of the 50,000 dollar Areeba Open Championship in three sets, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 when he lost to Burkinabe Sigue Abubakari in the second round at the Frank Ofori Tennis Court at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra. The Ghanaian, ranked number one for the championship started on a bright note when he won without much difficulty the first set 6-3. But the Burkinabe, who was a relatively unknown quantity before coming into the championship, quickly reorganised himself in the second set and with the aid of a tight sprain suffered by the Ghanaian won the second set 6-2.

Menford, 17, failed to shake of the injury, which severely restricted his movement on the court to give Abubakari the initiative to hold on to cause the first major upset of the day when he won the third set 6-3. Abubakari will next take on 16th ranked player, Fedelick Owusu-Ansah in the third round on Wednesday. The upset bud, however, did not affect the other ranked players as Fred Egyir, Michael Nortey and Robert Kpodo all advanced to the next stage.

Number two ranked Egyir, who had a walk over in the first round made light work of his second round opponent Bernard Dugba, beating him in two straight sets 6-3, 6-2 to book a third round berth with Charles Abugrila in the next stage. Nortey, ranked third, scaled over Edward Quarcoo 6-2, 6-3 to advance to the next stage after having a walk over in the first round. Kpodo had a relatively easy pay-day when his opponent, Sasu Adjapong retired hurt in the second set, after he won the first set 6-0 and will next sort things out with Abeaku Bentsi on Wednesday. In other second round matches played today, Edmund Quarcoo beat Kofi Adjonyao 6-0 in the first set before the latter retired in the second set with Richard Tetteh beating Anthony Azumah 6-2, 6-1.