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.

Gov’s Cup Lagos Tennis: Nigeria’s Paul upsets Mugabe, to battle S/A star in Quarterfinal

Nigeria’s Christian Paul battled his way to the quarter final of the 15th Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship on Wednesday as he upsets Duncan Mugabe of Uganda in a second round match at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.

Paul, who is ranked number 2130 in the world shocked Mugabe, the 2014 finalist, who is ranked 1186 in straight set of 6-4, 6-4.

Paul was instrumental to Team Tombim’s winning of the NCC Team Tennis Cup at the same venue on Saturday, and his reward for the win over Mugabe, is a quarterfinal showdown with Llyod Harris of South Africa on Thursday. Harris, the number 3 seed, defeated David Pel of The Netherlands 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in their second round clash.

“I’m very happy to have played and defeated Mugabe, who is higher ranked than me. This has boosted my confidence that if I put in more effort I can make it in the competition this year,” said Paul, who played qualifying matches before making it to the Main Draws of the first leg (Futures 3) of the ongoing International Tennis Federation (ITF) sanctioned tournament.

“I have come to realise that Nigerian players have the potential to make it big at the Governor’s Cup but we are faced with the problem of not playing circuits around the world to gain exposure and experience. I want to beg Nigerians to come to our aid by sponsoring some of us to play tournaments around the world,” he said.

Other Nigerians who played their second round matches Wednesday were not as lucky as Sylvester Emmanuel fell 6-2, 6-2 to number 2 seed Pere Riba of Spain. while top seed, Aidin Setkic of Bosnia crushed Albert Bikom in 6-1,6-0.

The Nigerian ladies also found the going tough as Ronke Akingbade and Osariemen Airhunmwunde were comprehensively beaten by number 6 seed, Ulrikke Eikeri from Norway and Frenchwoman Tessah Andrianjaftrimo 6-0, 6-0, and 6-1, 6-0 respectively.

Men singles final 2014
photo credit; governorscuplagostennis.com

Other matches on Thursday will see, Setkic slug it out against Alexis Klegou of Benin Republic just as Riba will play against Cortes Alcaraz Aaron.

In the women’s games, number 1 seed, France’s Sherazad Reix will battle Eikeri, Terziyska Julia will play against Andrianjaftrimo of France, Indianrarthana Thombare will keep a date with Conny Perrin of Switzerland as Tadeja Majeric of Slovakia will confront Ukraine’s Valeriya Strakhova.