Gov’s Cup Tennis: French, Bosnia players win 1st leg, as Futures 4 begins Monday

The first leg (Futures 3) of the 15th Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship was concluded on Saturday with 17-year-old French lady, Tessah Andrianjaftrimo and Aldin Setkic of Bosnia winning the women and men’s singles respectively.

Right from the first round of the Main Draw eight seed Andrianjaftrimo showed her intention of being a champion with her style of play which saw her stopping top players standing on her way to glory.

She showed no mercy to her final opponent, 5th seed Tadeja Majeric of Slovakia who she defeated in 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 at the Lagos Tennis Club, Onikan.

Men’s singles top seed, Setkic justified his rating winning his way to the final and defeating French Sadio Doumbia in one sided two straight sets of 6-1,-6-0 in Saturday’s final

Andrianjaftrimo described Majeric as a tough opponent. She however said that she was happy winning the Governor’s Cup the very first time she was coming to Lagos to play an International Tennis Federation (ITF) approved competition.

The women’s doubles was won by the duo of Margarita Lazareva from Russia and Ukraine’s Valeriya Strakhova, while the men’s doubles was won by the pairs of Pel David and Van Der Duim Antal, both from the The Netherlands.

The Trophy Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship
photo credit; governorscuplagostennis.com

Trophies were presented to all the winners during a brief ceremony attended by the vice chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Engr. Afolabi Salami, President of Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Barrister Rotimi Edu, Vice President of Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), Mr. Yemi Owoseni, Director General of Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr. Ayo Agbesanwa and a host of other guests.

Meanwhile, the second leg of the competition (Futures 4) served off on Sunday with some qualifying matches, while the Main Draws will begin on Monday. The grand finale of the 15th Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship will be held on Saturday, 19 December with the Minister of Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalung and the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode as special guests of honour

Governor’s Cup: End Of The Road For Nigeria…As Paul Bows To South African Star

Nigeria’s interest in the 15th Governor’s Cup was ended on Thursday as the country’s last hope in the singles of the $80, 000 prize-money championship, Christian Paul crashed out following a 6-1, 6-0 loss to South Africa’s Lloyd Harris at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.

Paul put up a great display to upset Ugandan Duncan Mugabe in the second round of the championship but he was no match for the fourth-seeded South African who wrapped up a convincing win in just over an hour.

Meanwhile, Thursday’s quarter final stage seems to be a day of upsets as many of the seeded players could not make it pass this stage.

Number 2 seed in the men’ singles Spain’s Pere Riba could not finish his match against number 5 seed, Sadio Doumbia as he retired in the second set of their game which ended 6-2,2-0. Zimbabwe’s Takanyi Garanganga, who is number 5 seed stopped Antal Van Der Duim of The Netherlands in straight set of 6-4,6-0.

In the women’s singles, tournament number 1 seed, Sherazad Reix of France could not complete the first set of her game against Norwegian Ulrikke Eikeri. The match was called off at 4-0 with Eikeri leading. Number 8 seed, Tessah Andrianjafitrimo of France upset Bulgarian Julia Terziyska, number 3 seed in straight set of 6-1,4-1 retired. Conny Perrin of Switzerland beat Prarthana Thombare 7-5, 6-2.

Men singles final 2014
photo credit; governorscuplagostennis.com

Number 1 seed in the men’s singles, Bosnia’s Aldin Setkic won his game against Benin Republic’s Alexis Klegou in straight sets of 6-0,6-3.

The semi final of the first leg holds Friday with Setkic meeting Harris, while Garangaga will face Doumbia in the men’s singles.

In the women’s singles, Eikeri will play against Andrianjafitrimo, while Perrin will battle Majeric.

The finals of Futures 3 will hold on Saturday with prize money and trophies presented to the winners in the singles and doubles events, while the second leg (Futures 4) starts immediately with the qualifying matches.

Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis: Nigerians face tough tests in second round

After what seems to be a jolly ride in the first round, Nigerian players are in for a real battle going in to the next round of the Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship as the first leg (Futures 3) of the tournament enters second round Wednesday at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.

According to the order of play for the second round matches, Sylvester Emmanuel, who upset an America’s Anderson Reed on Monday, will confront number two seed, Pere Riba of Spain.

Also, Albert Bikom will face tough test against number one seed, Aldin Setkic of Bosnia in another match just as Thomas Otu will slug it out with Van Der Duim of The Netherlands, the number six seed. Christian Paul will keep a date with sixth-seeded Duncan Mugabe of Uganda, who was a finalist last year.

In the Women’s Singles, Nigeria’s Osariemen Airhunmwunde will face Andrianjafitrimo Tessah of France, the number eight seed as Ronke Akingbade will clash with number sixth seed, Uirkke Eikeri from Norway.

Other matches of the second round will see South African Llyod Harris taking on David Pel of The Netherlands in the men’s singles, while Murta Lazareva of Russia will battle Thombere Prarthana Thombre of India in the women’s singles.

Conny Perrin of Switzerland will slug it out against Mara Schmidt of the USA. Tadeja Majeric of Slovaika will play against Ester Masuri of Israel. Alexandra Riley of America will have a showdown with Strakhova of Ukraine. Top seed Sherazad Reix of France will play against Valeria Bhunu of Zimbabwe.

The Trophy Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship
photo credit; governorscuplagostennis.com

Meanwhile, Clifford Enosoregbe of Nigeria could not make it to the second round Tuesday when he was defeated by Pere Riba of Spain in straight sets of 6-1, 6-0. Another Nigerian, Christopher Edward was beaten by Antal Van Der Duim of The Netherlands in straight of 6-3,6-2 while Mohammed Mohammed also bowed out to another Dutchman David Pel 6-1, 6-2.

Also, Nigeria’s Joseph Imeh retired in the first set of his match against France’s Fabien Reboul, while Nigerian born female player, Mellisa Ishuan Ifidzen, who represented Russia in the Governor’s Cup, was defeated by Thombere Prarthana Thombre of India in 6-2, 6-1 game in the Women’s Singles.

Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis: Nigeria’s Emmanuel Upsets America’s Reed In First Round

Nigerian players taking part in the 15th Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship began their quest for honours with victories in the first round of the competition with Sylvester Emmanuel making the headlines following his 7-6(3), 6-3 win over American Anderson Reed at the Lord Rummen Centre Court of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.

Emmanuel, a wild card entrant, clinched the men’s singles title at the Dala Hard Court Championship two weeks ago and he seems to have saved his best for the Governor’s Cup as he could only watch his Team Kalotari managed a third place finish at the NCC Team Tennis Final on Saturday.

An elated Emmanuel said after the match that he was not surprised with the victory over Reed who is ranked 1488 in the world, adding that hardwork and experience he gained while traveling around the world to play in different circuits won the match for him.

“I feel great winning this match. I went into the match with a great confidence that I would win. This is because I played more ATP tournaments than Reed. He is a good player but I’m better than him,” said Emmanuel, who in the past few months had played in ATP ranked competitions in the USA, Togo and Benin Republic.

The Nigerian star, however, said that this year’s Governor’s Cup will be different for the local players as they are battle ready to give their foreign counterparts a good run for their money.

Other Nigerians who made a headway in the first round of the men’s singles are Mohammed Mohammed, who defeated Ghana’s Bernard Dugbah 4-6, 5-3, 5-3, while Albert Bikom also edged Swiss Jessy Kalambay 5-7, 6-4, 7-5, all in the men’s singles.

Some Nigerian ladies won their respective matches of the first round, moving on to the second round. Ronke Akingbade beat compatriot Christie Nwankwo 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, while Blessing Samuel lost to Osariemen Airhumwunde 6-4, 6-2.

Men singles final 2014
photo credit; governorscuplagostennis.com

The duo of Mohammed Mohammed and Joseph Imeh beat the pair of Alexei Filenkov of Russia and Aldin Setkic of Bosnia to progress to the second round.

It was not a smooth sailing for Nigeria as Aminat Quadri lost 6-0, 6-0 to Frenchwoman Tessah Andrianoafitrimo while Kyra Shroff of India also crushed Nigeria’s Rita Obasigie 6-0, 6-0 in the women’s singles.

In other results, Tadeja Majeric of Slovakia beat Eden D’Oliveira of USA 60-3, 6-1. Ester Masuri of Israel defeated Olena Kyrpot of Ukraine 6-0, 6-3. Germany’s Andiyo Inwang, who was given a wildcard was beaten by Mara Schmidt of USA in straight set of 6-1, 6-3.

Zimbabwe’s Valeria Bhumu beat Usina Sumail of India 6-1, 6-2, while Alexandria Riley of the USA defeated Nina Kolar of Slovakia 5-3, 6-0 all in the women’s singles.

2015 Governor’s cup Lagos Tennis serves off….Nigeria gets large Wild card slots

The 15th Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship will formally serve off on Monday at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, with no fewer than 20 matches on the card in the Men and Women singles main draw.

As hosts, Nigeria, understandably was given the privilege of having the largest number of Wild Card slots as no fewer than eight of the country’s players move into the main draw due to the fact that precious few of its players are in the ATP and WTA rankings.

Leading the nation’s quest for glory in the $80,000 prize-money tournament is Moses Micheal, the reigning champion, who took advantage of the abridged version held last year due to the Ebola virus scourge which restricted participating players to Africa.

The Trophy Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship
photo credit; governorscuplagostennis.com

Micheal is the highest-ranked Nigerian player in the ATP and after helping Tombim to win the NCC Team Tennis title on Saturday, he is expected to have his hands full as players from Europe, Asia and The Americas will all be featuring this time around.

Another player that will be on the spotlight is Melissa Ifidzhen, the Russian-Nigerian player who has been making waves both home and abroad.

The 18-year-old took Nigerian tennis by storm by winning this year’s Central Bank of Nigerian Open women’s singles, Women’s double and the mixed double titles.

The former Russian junior champion also comes into the championship in good form as she ended up as women’s doubles finalist at the ITF Circuit in Egypt two weeks ago. She has also won two women singles titles in Russia prior to her remarkable display in Egypt.

“I’m hoping for another memorable experience in Nigeria. The first time I played here was very successful and I’m looking forward to a good tournament. Hopefully, I will get my first WTA singles points right here in Nigeria,” she said after a training session on Saturday.

Melissa Ifidzhen,

Meanwhile, the LOC has urged tennis fans to turn out en masse and fill the stands stating that the Governor’s Cup is gradually becoming synonymous with renowned international tournaments in tennis.

Tournament Coordinator, Prince ‘Wale Oladunjoye, pointed that the next generation of world stars will be coming from the tournament; a fact he highlighted with India’s Sania Mirza, the 2004 champion, who is the current Wimbledon and US Open doubles title holder.

Bosnia and Herzegovina player, Aldin Setkic is the highest ranked star in this year’s tournament. He is ranked number 231, while French player, Sherazad Reix is leading the female player. She is ranked number 247 in the world.
Players from more than 50 countries will be taking part in the double-phase fortnight-long tournament.