15th October, 2012
The chances of Nigerian players going far in the 2012 Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship is very slim as most of them face tough opponents in the Main Draws of the first leg of the FCMB and Etisalat Nigeria sponsored competition which serves off today.
For Nigerian top female player, Fatimah Abinu, it would be hard for her to get past the tournament’s women top seed, Russian Nina Bratchikova. Unranked Abinu was drawn to face Number 93 player, who reached the second round of the last Australian Open. Another Nigerian lady, Rita Obasigie will have her hands full when she confront Israeli Karen Shlomo in one of the first round matches. Sarah Adegoke will play against Greek Stamatia Fafaliou
Abdulmumini Babalola, who was given a wild card to play in the Main Draws, will square it up against eighth seed Italian player, Alessandro Petrone in the Men’s Singles. Samuel Omoile will play against American Michael-Ray Pallares-Gonzalez. Nigerian number one male player, Shehu Lawal will go to war against Spanish Boria Rodriguez Manzano, while Joh Otu will play Japanese Kento Takeuchi.
Other Nigerians who will be playing in the Main Draws will have easy ride to the second round as they were drawn to face each other in the fixtures. Taiwo Owolabi will face wild card player, Onyeka Mbanu, Kehinde Alade will battle Emmanuel Idoko, Sanni Adamu will face Umaru Balami, while Clifford Enosoregbe will go to war with Henry Atseye in the Men’s Singles.
Meanwhile, Kehinde who qualified for the Main Draws at the expense of two American players, Murphey Parker (6-4, 6-1) and Bayo Phillips (6-4,6-4) on Saturday and Sunday said the victories were good for his game.
“The tournament has been good for me so far though it hasn’t been an easy one. I’ve defeated two Americans already and people may think it was that easy but it wasn’t I must confess.”
“I had to come back from 4-1 against both Americans and I told myself that I wasn’t going to give up. My hardwork and doggedness paid off and I won against them,” the one-time ball boy explained.