Nigerian players get eight wild cards for 16th Lagos Governor’s Cup tennis

Organisers of the Lagos Governor’s Cup Tennis Championship have set aside eight wild cards for Nigerian players, just as they disclosed yesterday that everything needed to make the 16th edition a hitch-free have been put in place. The championship will hold from October 8-22 at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.

A total number of 109 players from no fewer than 39 countries including host, Nigeria will participate in the annual event. They will fight for the $100,000 dollars prize money and ATP points in the two-legged tournament.

According to the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Chief Pius Oluwole Akinyelure, each player that makes it to the main draw will have a share in the prize money.

He said that the increase in prize money from $80,000 last year to $100,000 this year has not only cemented the GCLT in the No 1 position in Futures Tournaments in Africa, Asia and South America, but it is also the final step towards upgrading it to the Challenger Series.

“This level with its attendant economic and commercial benefits, gels into the future of Lagos as a Mega-City. We will be moving from an ITF Tournament to a Professional Tennis Association (PTA) Tournaments, only a step away from the ultimate in tennis, the Tennis Open,” he said.

Speaking further, Akinyelure said: “Lagos State is 50 years this year and the drums have been rolled out. His Excellency, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode is the chief celebrator. The GCLT is buying into the programme and has already started discussion with relevant government agencies especially in tourism, information, education and wealth creation.”

Meanwhile, Tournament Director, Prince Wale Oladunjoye has advised Nigerian players to make good use of the eight wild cards given to them in the championship.