Nigeria coach laments over Gov’s Lagos Tennis

The remaining Nigerian players battling for honours in the singles event of the ongoing 13th Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, Lagos on Wednesday crashed out of the first leg following their defeats.

Clifford Enosoregbe lost 6-3,6-3 to number one seed, Hiroki Kondo of Japan as Christian Paul lost 6-0,6-0 to Borna Coric of Croatia.

Also, Sanni Adamu lost 6-2,6-3 to number three seed, Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan of India as Joseph Umeh also lost to an Indian, Mithun Murali 6-4,4-6,6-0.


The Nigerian pair of Ronke Akingbade and Blessing Anuna also lost 6-2.6-0 to Italian Giola Barbieri of Russian Anna Morgina in the women’s doubles.

Two major upsets were however, recorded on Wednesday at the International Tennis Federation-sanctioned competition as number two seed Russian Nina Bratchikova was bundled out by Italian Giola Barbieri 6-4,6-2 while Indian Prathana Thombare defeated number three seed, Eva Birnerova of Czech 6-1,6-2.

Meanwhile, chief coach of the Nigeria Tennis Federation, Ishicheli Benson has expressed worry over the unimpressive performance of the hosts in the first leg of the tourney.

“It has been the same old story. I particularly feel bad because the NTF and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) camped the players prior but the senior ones among them failed to turn up giving unnecessary excuses.

“You can see that those junior players who came for the camping performed very well with some of them from the qualifying round getting to the second round. It is so sad even with the promises of the LOC and the sponsors to sponsor any player who performs very well to outside circuits, these players failed to up their game when it matters most,” said Benson.