Lagos Governor’s Cup Tennis will produce grand slam champions, says Tinubu

As 15th edition serves off December 5
As the 15th edition of Lagos Governor’s Cup Tennis Championship serves off on December 5, organisers of the event are looking forward to seeing one of the players ruling the gland slam in the nearest future.

The city of Lagos will experience an influx of players from at least 60 countries around the world in this year’s Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship, which will hold from December 5 to 19 at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Court, Onikan.

Speaking in Lagos yesterday, the chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Chief Pius Oluwole Akinyelure, said everything needed for a hitch-free event had been put in place.

Akinyelure stated that the Governor’s Cup, which is an ITF Pro Circuit competition with a total prize money 80,000 dollars, would continue to serve its purpose as Nigeria’s biggest tourist attraction.

He announced that getting sponsorship for this year’s edition was a herculean task following the inability of two of their sponsors, Etisalat and FCMB, to be part of it. He, however, praised other sponsors including Deux Projects Ltd, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, LIRS, CCECC, Julius Berger Plc, Naston Ltd and LASACO Plc for their support.

Also speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Sports, Deji Tinubu, said the championship has lived up to the dream of its founding father, former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

“It is always difficult to convince Asiwaju Tinubu, but the organisers were able to do so 15 years ago and I am proud of the success story recorded so far,” he said.

Deji Tinubu said that he was looking forward to seeing products of the championship ruling the gland slam in the nearest future.

“Few years ago, one young player called Borna Coric participated in this championship and I am proud he has grown to become a key figure in world tennis. I am hoping and praying that very soon, players from the Lagos Governor’s Cup tennis championship will rule the singles event in the glad slam,” Tinubu said.

It will be recalled that Borna Coric, a former winner of Lagos Governor’s Cup tennis championship secured the biggest win of his career by overcoming Rafael Nadal at the Swiss Indoors Basel last year.

The young Croat, who spent time training with Nadal last year, was a deserved 6-2 7-6 (7-4) victor over the 14-time grand slam winner in Basel, and Tinubu says more products of the championship would continue to rule the world of tennis.

Another product from the Lagos Governor’s Cup tennis championship, now making waves in world tennis is Sanya Mirza from India.