Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis serves off October 6

The 17th edition of Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship will hold from October 6-21, 2017, the International Tennis Federation (ITF), has said. The Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), said yesterday that the world tennis governing body,  ITF, has approved the dates for the organization of competition, adding that the NTF, in conjunction with the Local Organising Committee,  LOC headed by Pius Akinyelure and the Lagos State Government will organise the 100,000 dollars prize money tournament (men and women categories) at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club at Race Course, Onikan, Lagos.

“Mr. Ian Smith, a South African, has been assigned by the ITF as the Tournament Referee, while Prince Wale Oladunjoye has always been the Tournament Director since the completion began in 2000, “ NTF said.

The tennis federation said that all hands would be on deck to organise a memorable two weeks Championship in October.The 2016 edition of the Governor’s Cup was an exciting tournament, as it was attended by players from more than 39 countries across the world.

The first leg (Futures 5) of the 16th edition was won by players of Spain and Slovakia in the men and women’s singles respectively.Spain’s Enrique Lopez – Perez, who won the competition in the 2012 edition, did it again when he defeated Gianni Mina in the grudge final of the men’s singles that ended 6-2, 6-7(7), 6-1,while in the women’s singles, Slovak Majeric, who won the final in the 2013 edition and runner up in the 2015 competition, was superb in the final against a consistent regular face in Lagos tournament in the last six years, Swiss Conny Perrin. Majeric won the first leg final in 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 game.

The female category of the second leg (Futures 6) was a sweet revenge for Conny Perrin of Switzerland who beat SlovakTadeja Majeric, her perennial foe at the Governor’s Cup in the final that ended in straight sets of 6-3,6-3.

French player, Calvin Hemery,whose father was a Nigerian,was beaten by Enrique Lopez-Perez of Spain in straight sets of 5-7,5-7 in the final of the men’s singles of the second leg decided on the Centre Court of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.Many dignitaries including the Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello watched the finals.