21st November, 2014
Damilare Okunola
Nigeria’s teenage sensation, Sylvester Emmanuel, Thursday evening, defeated another top player, Sunday Maku, as he finally realises his dreams of playing in the semis of the Lagos Governor’s Cup Tennis Invitational Championship.
Emmanuel won in two straight set, 6-2, 6-1 in a match which was injury-laden for Maku at the centre court of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Court, LLTC, Onikan, Lagos.
Continuing his impressive performance which saw him defeat Clifford Enosoregbe, number two seed yesterday, Moses Michael also put up a virtuoso display today to send Nonso Madueke, another top player, packing in a 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 duel.
Duncan Mugabe from Uganda ensured that the foreigners still has a say to decide who wins the championship as he who continued his impressive run with a 7-6(5), 6-4 defeat of number five seed Henry Atseye while Monday Igbinovia beat Emmanuel Idoko, 7-5, 6-4.
In the Women’s Singles, number one seed, Zarah Razafinmahatratra beat Osareimen Airhunwunde, 5-0 (rtd.), while Christie Agugbom knocked out Patience Onebamhion, 6-0, 6-3.
Aanu Aiyegbusi, another top seed outplayed top star, Blessing Samuel in two straight sets of 6-4, 6-4 just as Nigeria’s number one female tennis player, Sarah Adegoke, defeated Dubai-based Beauty McCleod, 6-3, 6-2 in the other match.
The number one seed for the Women’s Doubles, Razafinmahatratra and Adegoke, continued their roller-coaster ride with a 6-1, 6-3 thrashing of Akingbade and Lolia Kienka in the first semi-final match decided today.
Razafinmahatratra, who said that she is under pressure to justify her number one rating disclosed after her match that, “it was unfortunate that my opponent picked up the injury, I hope she gets better, but I am still aiming to win this tournament and I hope my dreams come true.
“Like I said, the pressure is there, being my first time of being seeded number one for the tournament. But, I am not leaving anything to chance to justify my rating.”
The semi-final matches will be played tomorrow inside the tennis courts of the LLTC as the tournament finally reaches its climax.