Seeds continue to tumble at Areeba Open

Accra, Dec 15, GNA - Seeded players at the quarter final stage of the 50,000 dollar Areeba Open Championship at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium tennis courts, continue to tumble as number two seed, Fred Egyir was bundled out of the tournament by number seven seed, Albert Arthur in three sets of 7-5,3-6,6-3 scores. Egyir, a member of the national tennis team, the Golden Rackets, though came into the match enjoying the support of the fairly large crowd at the stadium, found his young opponent from Winneba in an uncompromising mood.

Arthur, winner of the Juvita championship played earlier in the year, did not give his much more experienced opponent a much look in, when he dominated the court with his precise passing shots and good coverage at the net. Egyir's inconsistencies did not help him as he committed a lot of unforced errors to allowed Arthur to take the first set 7-5. Sensing danger, Egyir quickly reorganised his game and with the aid of his powerful serves managed to level proceedings to win the second set 6-3. Arthur however underscored his rising star status when he took the game to his opponent who found it difficult dealing with the latter's aggressive serve and volley game.

After both players traded a break of serves each, Arthur eventually took over the game to win the third and final set 6-3. Egyir follows the tournament's number one seed and number three seed Owusu Manford and Michael Nortey who were knocked out at the second round and quarterfinal stages respectively out of the competition. Arthur next faces number four seed, Robert Kpodo in the semi-finals. Kpodo managed to survive the upset bud when he disposed off Edmund Quarcoo in two straight sets, 7-5, 6-3. Burkinabe Sigui Aboubacar, now among the favourites to win the competition, continued his match towards the crown with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 victory over eighth seed Raymond Hayford. Next in line to face the Burkinabe in the semi-finals will be Richard Tetteh who beat Benjamin Ababio 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(3).

In the Ladies event, Emma Kujoe the tournament's number one seed beat her younger sister Anita in their quarter finals encounter with a 6-2, 6-2 win to book a date with Kumasi based number one seed, Maraim Mamoud who had a walk over when her opponent, Abigail Opoku Mensah failed to turn up. Antoinette Cruickshank who had a walkover when her opponent Mercy Kudjoe also failed to turn up will next meet second seed Kate Coleman who demolished her opponent Vida Kuma 6-0, 6-1. The finals of the doubles encounter will be between the Ghanaian pair of Albert Arthur and Owusu Manford and Burkinabe pair of Sigui Aboubacar and Lonfo Zebrina. The competition continues on Friday with the semi final matches in both the men and ladies divisions.