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.

Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Regains ITF Points-earning Status

The International Tennis Federation (ITF),on Monday approved the Futures 3 and Futures 4 Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship which will hold from December 5th -19th at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan Lagos.

The ITF also said it is expecting players from all parts of the world to turn up for the $80,000 prize-money event which ranks among the biggest in Africa. This year’s edition will be the 15th of the tournament.

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

The Ebola scourge in Nigeria last year forced the ITF not to sanction the tournament and instead an abridged version was held which was restricted to players from Africa. Due to the absence of players from across the globe, the 2014 edition was also a non-point-earning event.

But ITF, in a letter to the Nigeria Tennis Federation, said it has returned to its earlier status as a point-earning tournament which would be an attraction to players from all parts of the world.

Nigeria’s Michael Moses won the men’s singles while Zarah Razafinmahatratra of Madagascar claimed the women’s top prize.
India’s Sania Mirza, the top-ranked WTA doubles player and Croatia’s Ivan Dodic, the world no 1 ITF junior ranked player, among others, are some of the players that have used the Governor’s Cup as a springboard for their successful careers in recent years.
Tournament Coordinator, Prince Wale Oladunjoye said the tournament will continue to grow bigger.

Men singles final 2014
photo credit; governorscuplagostennis.com

“This is good news, it goes to show that the ITF has got confidence in the Nigeria Tennis Federation as well as the organizers because we have been kept on the edge as we expected that they would have approved the tournament some few months ago because we normally hold it in October,” he said.

The NTF on its part said it will continue to work with the Main Organizing Committee to deliver a highly successful championship.

LAGOS GOVERNOR’S CUP TENNIS ON COURSE

Director General (DG), Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), Mr. Ayodele Agbesanwa has assured the organisers of the Lagos Governor’s Cup Tennis of the State Government’s full support for the 15th edition of the tournament. He gave this assurance today at a meeting with the organisers in Lagos.

Agbesanwa said that, upon his resumption as DG, one of the first assignments was his request for some files which included the Lagos Governor’s Cup Tennis to familiarise himself with some of the contents.

He further said that, he isn’t a stranger to the tournament over the years with the deployment of a media team for coverage while he was at Lagos Television (LTV). He assured the organisers that the tourney has come to stay with the support of the State Government because of the tourney’s lofty and achievable objectives that would be of immense benefits to the populace of Lagos State.

Agbesanwa noted that, it was indeed a privilege to meet Chief Pius Oluwole Akinyelure, Chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC) and Prince Wale Oladunjoye. He thanked the organisers for their commitment, resources expended and for keeping the tourney running, year in year out. While he further assured the LOC of provision of vehicles for transportation purposes as requested by the organisers.

The LOC said that they are happy with this collaboration with and full support of the tourney by the State Governor, His Excellency, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode. They hope and believe that His Excellency would grace the finals.

They organisers had earlier opined that one of the tournament’s objectives is to attract emerging Nigerian Stars to compete with the best International Circuit players for experience and rating.

L-R SEGUN EGORP; OLUMIDE FILADE; PRINCE WALE OLADUNJOYE; CHIEF PIUS OLUWOLE AKINYELURE; AYODELE AGBESANWA & OLUMIDE TRAVIH

The ultimate aim of the tourney is to become a full blown Lagos International Open, but with the present Lagos Governor’s Cup Tennis, Nigeria has eight Wild Cards for its players.

At the 14th edition, thirty-eight countries participated. The tournament is organised with full the involvement of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) and the International Tennis Federation (ITF). The tourney is yet to become entrance fee paying. It would hold from 5th to 19th December, 2015.