Lagos Governors’ Cup Tennis Championship

New champion, Van der Duim, ready to take on world’s best

’ Anal Van Der Duim, the number six seed, who on Saturday won the second leg of the just-concluded Governors Cup Lagos Tennis Championship, has described the victory as a great fillip to his career, reports the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He says the victory will aid him in his quest to become one of the best players in the world.

Van der Duim defeated Zimbabwe’s Takanyi Garanganga, the number three seed, 6-3, 7-6 at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan to win the championship.
Speaking after the game, Van der Duim said he was excited that he won, stressing that the victory would boost his world ranking.

“I am glad I won, this is my first time here and I had planned to make my trip worth my while.

“I also would say the competition has helped to improve on my ranking. The pressure during the competition was one issue I had to deal with because every player at the competition wanted to win.

“I did not give them the chance because I came for the points to improve my points tally,’’ he said.

In the women’s singles, Conny Perrin of Switzerland defeated Tadeja
Majeric 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 to win the title in a game that lasted for about two hours.

Conny said afterwards she was elated by her victory and thanked her coach for believing in her, stressing that she played one of her best
games against a strong contender.

“I just played my game. My opponent beat me in the first leg and I had my revenge in the second,’’ Conny said.

The men’s doubles was won by the Africa’s pair of Harris Llyod (South Africa) and Karim-Mohammed Maamoun (Egypt), while India’s Prarthana Thombare and Julia Terziyska from Bulgaria won the women’s doubles. 

Excited by the attendance and the features of the competition, the president of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), Sani Ndanusa,
congratulated the organisers of the competition, saying that they ensured the overall success of the event.

“I also seize this opportunity again to appeal to lovers of tennis to support the development of the sport.

“Our players need to attend many tournaments to improve on their
world rankings,’’ he said.

The tournament director, Wale Oladundoye, said he was still confident
that the local players would improve over their foreign counterparts in future editions.

“I wish to say this to our home-based players to take their stand and rise to the occasion and rub shoulders with their foreign counterparts in the next edition,’’ he said.

The championship is made up of two tournaments, Future 3 and 4,
spanning two weeks with 64 players in participation.

For his efforts, Van Der Duim won cash prize of $15, 000, while Perrin from Switzerland won $25,000.