July 17, 2024
Nigeria, the least ranked team, at the on-going Davis Cup qualifiers in Abuja, recorded a massive boost in their quest for promotion to Davis Cup World Group II after two hard-fought victories in the singles event on Tuesday at the tennis court, package B of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.
Playing against the highest-ranked Zimbabwean counterparts, the Nigerian players, with overwhelming support from the home crowd stunned Zimbabwe with a 2-0 lead in the tie.
Michael Emmanuel, who was playing his first-ever match in a Davis Cup competition, outplayed Courtney Lock in a final-set game which ended 2-6, 6-1, 6-3.
The match, which was stopped intermittently due to rainfall, lasted more than an hour.
Christopher Bulus continued from where his compatriot, Emmanuel, stopped by ensuring that he (Bulus) continued his winning streak at the Davis Cup competition.
US-based Bulus, also came from behind to cause an unprecedented upset by defeating Benjamin Lock 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 in what is arguably the biggest win of his tennis career till date.
The Nigerian, ranked 1174 on the ATP, gained control of the game and ensured an emphatic defeat of the world number 419 player.
The third and final rubber will be played on Wednesday ahead of Nigeria’s next round of matches.
Matches resume by 10 am on Wednesday, as Nigeria continue their quest for promotion to World Group II.
