The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship

  • Governor’s Cup : Nigeria’s Imeh Upsets French Star

    Governor’s Cup : Nigeria’s Imeh Upsets French Star

    A lowly rated Nigerian player, Joseph Imeh Ubon on Tuesday caused a major upset in the second leg (Futures 5) of the ongoing Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship when he shocked French Stephan Fransen in one of the first round matches played at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.

     Imeh,  who is ranked number 1951 in the world,  proved too much for Fransen, ranked 562. With cheers from fans at the venue, the Nigerian youngster defeated his opponent in a game that ended 0-6,6-3,6-0. Surprisingly, the France’s player was a finalist in the men’s singles in Futures 4.
     Imeh will now played tournament number 4 seed, Ilkel Cem of Turkey in the second round on Wednesday.
    However, Henry Atseye could not make it like Imeh as he retired in the second set of his game against Ilija Vucic of Serbia with a result 6-2,2-0. Also Christopher Bulus was defeated by Thomas Setodji of France 6-4,6-4 all in the men’s singles.
    Other men’s singles results saw Lance-Pierre du Toit of South Africa beating Giovanni Samaha of Liberia5-7,6-3,6-0. Tournament number 1, Indian Prajnesh Gunneswaran got the best out of France’s Manuel Guinard in straight set of 6-4,6-0, while Egyptian Sherif Sabry beat Alexis Klegou of Ivory Coast.
    Barakat Oyinlomo Quadre was defeated by French Harmony Tan, who is the number 8 in straight sets of 6-4,6-0. Also Futures 4 winner in the women’s singles, Israeli Deniz khazaniuk beat Adetayo Adetunji 6-1,6-1.
    Meanwhile, Conny Perrin of Switzerland scaled the hurdles to the second round  after her opponent, Jesmin Jebawy of Germany retired  in the second set of their match. The match ended 6-0,2-0. Number two seed, Ayla Aksu from Turkey beat Tiffany William of Great Britain 6-4,6-4
  • Governor’s Cup: Nigerian Player Fail First Round Tests 

    Governor’s Cup: Nigerian Player Fail First Round Tests 

  • Governor’s Cup: Tickets Go For Sale Online

    Governor’s Cup: Tickets Go For Sale Online

    The Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship has decided to take the International Tennis Federation (ITF) pro circuit to the next level by introducing fans tickets starting from the 17th edition this year.
    The 2017 events hold from 6-21 October at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, by Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) Race Course, Lagos Island.
    The tickets are available online since Wednesday this week at Ariya Tickets (https://www.ariiyatickets.com/new/event-detail.php?eid=500) and Naija Tickets Shop ( http://naijaticketshop.com/details.php?id=2218)
    The tickets come in different categories. While Category 1 regular ticket goes for N1,500 each, the VIP category goes for N5,000 each.
    To the Tournament Director, Prince Wale Oladunjoye, ticket holders stand to win handsome gifts while coming to watching exciting tennis matches display by the emerging youngsters across the world.
    “The tournament this year promises to be exciting and glamorous, a reason we want to give Nigerian opportunity to be part of the event when coming to the venue.
    Meanwhile, the LOC headed by Chief Pius Akinyelure has also introduced new innovations that will keep fans involved in this year’s competition.
    “We have a big billboard at the entrance of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, where we have a banner headline with the Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship hashtags #GovCupLagos.
    “The Hashtags is to create awareness early enough before commencement of the competition. Tennis fans have been going there to take shots and selfie to place online as their support for wider media mileage, ” Oladunjoye said in press statement.
    Media Coordinator of the Governor’s Cup, Taiwo Adelu,  disclosed that a short video of 20 seconds has gone viral on the social media to further enhance the publicity campaign of the championship.
    “The video produced by Lolade Adewuyi’s Camps Bay Sports Media in Lagos is part of the LOC’s effort to drive traffic to the venue of the competition, ” he said.
  • ITF fixes Sept 21 deadline for Governor’s Tennis Cup

    ITF fixes Sept 21 deadline for Governor’s Tennis Cup

    The International Tennis Federation, ITF, has fixed Thursday, 21 September as the deadline for players willing to participate in the pro circuit competition.

    This is in readiness for the 17th Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship scheduled for 6th-21st October, 2017 this year.

    This was contained in a notice published on the website of the ITF with other instructions on how the players could register for the two weeks event in Lagos, after payment of a $40 entry fee.

    The ITF also directed that Tuesday, 26 September will be the deadline for withdrawal of any player who is not willing to play in the competition after registration. The ITF said that the qualifying matches for the first leg (Fixtures 4) of the tournament will be played from 7th-8th October, while the Main Draws will be held from 9th-14th October at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.

    For the second leg (Fixtures 5), a deadline of Thursday, 28 September has been fixed for registration, while the 3rd October date has also been fixed for withdrawal.  The second leg will end with the final matches and presentation of trophies on 21st October.

    However, Tournament Director, Prince Wale Oladunjoye has hinted that the $100,000 prize money championship is going to be bigger this year with lots of attractive packaging that will make the tournament more glamorous. He said the Local Organising Committee (LOC)  headed by Chief Pius Akinyelure in conjunction with the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) will leave nothing to chance to ensure that the 17th Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis lives up to its bidding.

    This year’s competition will likely attract more players across the world than the previous editions, going by the interest shown by the emerging world tennis players to visit Lagos. They are not only coming to win the dollar prize money; but they will play in the competition and pick points to enhance their rating in the world.

    The Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship has been a tournament staged every year to celebrate the sitting Executive Governor of Lagos State, one of the largest mega cities of the world.

    There has been no year without the Governor’s Cup being staged since the administration of Honourable Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.  The incumbent Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, since he assumed office, showed exceptional interest in seeing that the annual competition meets up its dates on the ITF calendar.

    “This year is not an exception,” said Prince Oladunjoye, who commended the Governor for the support and other friends of the Governor who have over the years showed their unflinching support for the Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis.

    “This competition started with Asiwaju Tinubu, whom we all know as a great leader. Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola succeeded in improving on this tournament and we are so happy that Governor Ambode, with his love for sports, has ensured that the Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis becomes a bigger tournament that will attract more players to the city of Lagos,” Oladunjoye said.