22nd October, 2013
Some Nigerian players have played their way into the second round of Futures 2 of the ongoing Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship after they won their first round matches of the Main Draws yesterday at Lagos Lawn tennis Club.
Shehu Lawal had an easy ride over compatriot Sanni Adamu in straight set of 6-4, 6-1, while Kehinde Alade was too much for Ivorian Sylvain Anibie whom he defeated 6-0, 6-7, 6-0.
Other Nigerians who played yesterday were not lucky as they were shown the exit door by their experienced foreign opponents. Theophile Segodo of Benin beat Henry Atseye 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 in the Men’s Singles. Russian Margarita Lazareva beat Ronke Akingbade of Nigeria 6-0, 6-1 in the Women’s Singles, while Nina Bratchikova of Russia, tournament number two seed beat USA-based Nigerian Idia Amen 6-0, 6-1.
In other men’s results, Mithun Nurali of India beat Robert Mensah Kpodo of Ghana 6-3,6-1, while wild card Daouda Ndiaye of Senegal beat Felix Hounkpeyi of Benin 6-3,7-6(3). In the women’s game, Greece’s Maria Sakkari beat Xi-Yao Wang of China 6-1,7-5, Melanie Klaffner of Austria defeated Zariah Razafimahatratra 6-4,6-1, Jasmin Steinherr of Germany beat Anke Poncelet of Belgium .
6-2,6-2, while Italian Gioria Barbieri beat Michaela Frilka of Germany 6-0,6-1.