17th October, 2013
Russian star, Nina Bratchikova, a former winner of the Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship could not re-enact the form that took her to the second round of this year’s U.S. Open as she was bundled out of the second round of the first leg of 2013 Governor’s Cup yesterday at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.
Nina, the tournament’s number two seed, who also made it to the third round of 2012 Australian Open, was upset by a more determined unranked Italian player, Giola Barbieri in straight sets of 6-4,6-2 in the second round match of the Women’s Singles of the Etisalat/FCMB sponsored tournament.
Another major upset was also recorded in yesterday’s match when Indian Prathana Thombare beat No. 3 seed, Eva Birnerova from Czech in straight sets of 6-1,6-2.
However, good news could not be told of the remaining Nigerian players in the first leg as they were shown the exit door in the second round matches.
Junior player, Joseph Umeh Uboh proved a hard nut to crack for Indian Mithun Murali but he had to give up in their match that ended 6-4, 4-6, 6-0. No. 1 seed in the men’s singles, Hiroki Kondo from Japan beat Clifford Enosoregbe 6-3, 6-3, while Borna Coric from Croatia defeated Christian Paul 6-0,6-0.
No. 3 seed Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan of India beat Sanni Adamu 6-2,6-3, while the pair of Giola Barbieri of Italy and Anna Morgina of Russia beat Ronke Akingbade and Blessing Anuna 6-2.6-0 in the women’s doubles.
Speaking about the poor outing of the local players in the first leg of the Governor’s Cup this year, Chief Coach of Nigerian Tennis Federation, NTF, Ishicheli Benson blamed the players for their woes, saying their unseriousness contributed to their poor performance.
—Damilare Okunola