Tennis: Action begins at 15th Governor’s Cup

The 2015 edition of Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship will serve off at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, Monday with the Main Draws of the first leg (Futures 3) taking off.

The tournament had, at the weekend, held the qualifying matches for the players whose world rankings could not meet up with the criteria of playing directly in the Main Draws.
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With the qualifying matches concluded Sunday, all is now set for the big stage where hostilities to win the prize money of $15,000 and $25,000 for men and women singles respectively in the first leg begin.

The players will also fight for ATP points to improve their rankings in the world.

On the part of the Local Organising Committee, LOC, headed by Pius Akinyelure and the host, Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, all arrangements have been concluded to stage a befitting championship, the first in the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos.

“We are set for another exciting two weeks this year and I want to assure all our visitors around the world that they are welcome to the City of Lagos,” said the Tournament Director, Wale Oladunjoye.

According to the International Tennis Federation, ITF, Bosnia and Herzegovina player, Aldin Setkic, is the highest ranked star in this year’s tournament. He is ranked number 231, while French player, Sherazad Reix, is leading the female player. She is ranked number 247 in the world.

Pere Riba of Spain (246), Takanyi Garanganga of Zimbabwe (436), Sadio Doumbia of France (441), Antal Van Der Duim from The Netherlands (444), Llyod Harris of South Africa (492) and Karim-Mohammed Maamoun of Egypt (506), Andre Gaspar Murta of Portugal, Ben Mclachlan on New Zealand and French Fabien Reboul complete the Top 10 seeds in the men’s category of the first leg which ends on December 12. The second leg holds from 12-19 December.

Ukraine’ Valeriya Strakhova who is ranked 267 is second seed in the women’s category. A known face at the annual competition, Slovakia’ Tadeja Majeric will return to Lagos this year. She is the third seed and on number 304 in the world.

Also returning to Lagos for the Governor’s Cup are American Alexandra Riley (843) and Israeli Ester Masuri (1233).

The Governor’s Cup, since inception during the regime of Bola Tinubu has been a tournament organised to celebrate the sitting governor of Lagos State.

The Governor’s Cup has been sponsored over the years by FCMB and Etisalat Nigeria and others such as Deux Projects Ltd, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, LIRS, CCECC, Julius Berger Plc, Naston Ltd, LASACO Plc. and a host of other private individuals.