Nigeria’s tennis sensation, Barakat Quadri defeated long-term rival Angel Mcleod 6-3, 6-3 to progress to the final of the girl’s singles at the ITF West/Central Africa 18 and Under Circuit holding in Lome, Togo.
Quadri, who defeated top seed, Jaseen Firuguera of Spain in the quarterfinal added her sixth-seeded compatriot, McLeod to her list of casualties to set up a final meeting with Carmine Becoude of Benin in the final billed for Friday at the Stade Omnisports.
The win was Quadri’s seventh conservative win in the three-leg Circuit which is featuring players from West and Central Africa as well the USA, France, Spain, India, Singapore among others.
On her way to triumph in Cotonou, the unseeded fourteen-year-old defeated top seed, Marie Ange Adomon of Cote d’Ivoire in the semifinal before walloping Becoude 6-0, 6-0 in the final.
It was the sixth time in the nine days that the Morocco-bases Quadri will upset seeded players in the ITF point-earning tournaments.
Quadri and McLeod are having a good outing as they teamed up to beat Togolese pair of Vania Dotse and Serena Geli 6-1, 6-2 in the doubles to advance to the semifinal.
“Barakat has won the hearts of everybody. From Cotonou to Lome she is the talking point of this Circuit. She is playing very well; hitting several winners.
“The ITF High Performance Centre in Casablanca (Morocco) will be very proud of her because this is her first time she would be featuring at the 18 and Under tournament. All the other players that are making their appearance are easily beaten but in her case she is making the older players looks as if they are the one that are new at this level.” Nigeria’s coach Mohammed Ubale stated.
