By John Egbokhan
Top seeds Abdulmumuni Babalola and Fatima Abinue have emerged men’s and women’s singles   champions  respectively of this year’s Central Bank Senior Tennis Championship.

Shehu Lawal in action during the 34th Central Bank of Nigeria Senior Open Tennis Championship in Lagos on Thursday (10/5/12). NAN photo

In its 34th year of unbroken running on the tennis courts of the National Stadium in Lagos, the most glamorous All Nigerian tennis Championship, the CBN Cup came to a befitting end for the women’s top seed, Fatima Abinu, who in her final match  against qualifier Sarah Adegoke played on Court Two because of the rain disruptions, drew from her immense wealth of experience to cruise to  a straight sets of victory of 6-4, 6-2.

The first set was quite close with both players holding their serves but in the ninth game, Abinu sent a right-handed volley down Adegoke’s left, with the youngster unable to return to allow the former to break her.

Abinu held serve with a thundering ace and wrapped up the first set 6-4 by breaking Adegoke’ serve with a drop shot to her opponent’s left side.

The second set was more straightforward than the first as Abinu found another gear to easily take the second set 6-2 and with it the champion’s cheque of N600, 000.

In the mein;s singles final, Abdulmumuni Balola powered to a 6-3, 6-2 two sets win over Lawal Shehu at a near-packed Centre Court.

Balola showed his class against his fellow Davis Cup teammate and deservedly got the champions cheque of N600, 000.

Speaking after the match, Babalola, attributed his win to determination.

“I was determined to win the tournament and I thank God that my determination saw me through”, said Babalola.