22nd October, 2012
At least six Nigerian players are expected to qualify for the second round of the second leg of the Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship which is currently going on at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.
Unlike in the first leg of the FCMB/Etisalat Nigeria sponsored ITF approved competition where only few of them played in the second round because of the tough draws handed to them, there are great expectations the local players may go far in the second leg which starts today.
In the Men’s Singles, Shehu Lawal will play his compatriot, Abdulmumini Babalola; Onyeka Mbanu faces Sanni Adamu, while Clifford Enosoregbe battles Monday Igbinovia. In the Women’s Singles, Blessing Samuel will take on Fatimah Abinu, while Abiodun Oyegoke and Blessing Anuna will settle scores on the court for the second round slot.
In other fixtures that may see Nigerians scaling the hurdles to the next round of the competition, homeboy Samuel Omoile face Zimbabwe’s Mark Fynn. However, it will be tough for Henry Atseye as he battles Germany’s Mario Eckardt, Umaru Balami takes on Alessandro Petrone of Italy, while Cristie Agugbom will go to war against Michaela Frlicka in another encounter.
Meanwhile, to further show the recognition of the Governor’s Cup as one of the important pro circuits in its calendar, International Tennis Federation, ITF, has approved the presence of scouts to monitor matches in the tourney.
—Damilare Okunola