Nigeria recorded a major upset in the first leg (Futures 5) of the ongoing Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship on Wednesday.
Wildcard entrant, Clifford Enosoregbe, put up a brave performance to dump out tournament’s number 8 seed, Maciej Smola of Poland, in the second round match of the men’s singles played on Wednesday.
With overwhelming support from fans at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, the Polish was no match for the Edo-born Enosoregbe who won the crucial game in 7-6(1),3-6,6-2.
The Nigerian was so elated picking the quarter final ticket and being the only man standing among the home boys in the Governor’s Cup this year.
He said: “The Polish guy was so tough. It is not easy playing him, especially being the number 8 seed of the tournament. I think I was able to beat him because I trained hard for the Governor’s Cup in Benin with my younger brother.
As I look forward to my next match, I will keep calm, having at the back of my mind that I must win to keep the flag of Nigeria flying,” Enosoregbe added.
Enosoregbe who is keen to see his fairy tale run continue will now face number 4 seed, Indian Sasi Kumar Mukund, in Thursday’s quarter final game.
Other Nigerian players who played on Wednesday were not so lucky as did Enosoregbe, as they were humbled out of the first leg of the Governor’s Cup.
Boy Westerhof of The Netherlands defeated Henry Atseye in straight set of 6-1,6-4. Westerhof will battle Spain’s Enrique Lopez – Perez, the number one seed in the quarter finals.
Lopez – Perez defeated Duncan Mugabe in 6-4,6-0 in another match.
Nigeria’s Edward Christopher Anefu retired due to injury in the second set of his match against Karim-Mohamed Maamoun of Egypt.
Meanwhile, top seed in the women’s singles, Valetini Grammatikopoulou, from Greece, justified her rating as she continued her quest for the ultimate trophy on Saturday’s final.
She beat Indian Prarthana Thombare in straight set of 6-2,6-3.
Number 2 seed from Slovakia, Tadeja Majeric humbled Dhruthi Tatachar Venugopal of India in 6-3,6-1 match.
Swiss Conny Perrin walked over Rosalie Van Der Hoek of The Netherlands, Alexander Riley was sent packing by Fatma Al-Nabhani from Omar in straight set of 6-4,6-0 game.
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