23rd November, 2014
Damilare Okunola
The 14th edition of the Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship came to an end with a Nigerian player, Michael Moses coming from behind to defeat Uganda’s Duncan Mugabe, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Moses, who has had to come back from the ‘dead’ to win most of his matches since Monday when the invitational tournament served off on Monday, committed a series of error in the first set, which easily gave his rugged Ugandan opponent an opportunity to punish him.
The youngster, however, rose up in the second set to punish Mugabe’s inconsistency to loud cheers by the home fans who had been hitherto deprived of producing a finalist, let alone a winner.
Mugabe, who has also had a tremendous week, tried to get back into the game but it was too late as Moses ensured a Nigerian won the tournament for this year.
“How else could one feel after winning a tournament of this magnitude? I know my weaknesses and strengths and I can assure you that I did not just have the victory alone, God has always helped me to be at my best when it matters most. I’m happy that I won this tournament,” an overwhelmed Moses told P.M. News Sport after the pulsating encounter.
Meanwhile, Zarah Razafinmahatratra from Madagascar defeated Sarah Adegoke, 6-0, 6-1 in the Women’s Singles final. Razafinmahatratra, 20, explained that the outcome of the match did not reflect the intensity and pressure she felt while playing.
She also noted that there was pressure on her as the number one seed for the championship, which she tried so hard to justify.
According to the World’s number 620 player, “I have always wanted to come here and win. To be the top seed this year was enough, but winning the tournament has crowned all my efforts.
“It is the first time I am winning the Governor’s Cup and I hope to do even better than this in subsequent years.”
Among dignitaries at the closing ceremony were Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola, Director, PMO & Operational Strategy, Etisalat Nigeria, Ms. Ndidi Okpaluba, Commissioner for Youth Sports and Development, Wahid Enitan Oshodi and Vice President, Nigeria Tennis Federation, NTF, Yemi Owoseni.