Governor’s Cup Tennis: Nigerians out, 3 Africans in quarters

Three African players fought their ways into the quarter finals of the second leg (Futures 4) of the 15th Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship in the second round matches decided at Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan Wednesday.

The local players, however, crashed out, unable to make the quarter final stage.

Number two seed in the men’s singles, South African Llyod Harris defeated Swiss player, Jessy Kalambay in straight set of 6-3,6-3 to set up a quarter final match against France’s Fabio Reboul who beat Nigerian Sylvester Emmanuel in 6-2,6-4 game.

Takanyi Garanganga of Zimbabwe stopped Nigerian Joseph Imeh Ubon in straight set of 6-4,6-2, while Duncan Mugabe of Uganda defeated Deimas N’Tcha of Benin Republic in another straight set of 6-2,6-0.

Umaru Balami could not survive the heat from tournament number sixth seed, Antal Van Der Duim from The Netherlands as he was defeated in 2-6,1-6 game.

In other results of the men’singles, Egyptian Karim-Mohammed Maamoun defeated Aaron Cortes Alcaraz who retired in the second set of their match after the result read 7-5, 5-2. French Sadio Doumbia, number 4th seed, beat Ben McLachlan of New Zealand in 5-7,6-36-1 game.

Meanwhile, the only Nigerian lady in the second round  was sent out by French girl Tessah Andrianjafitrimo in a one sided match that ended 6-0,6-0. Top seed, Vaeriya Strakhova from Ukraine beat Mara Schmidt of USA 6-0,6-3. Tadeja Majeric, who won a leg in the 2013 edition of the Governor’s Cup beat Fiona Codino of France 6-1,6-0. Xiaozi Zhao of China upset number sixth seed, Magarita Lazareva 7-6,6-7,6-1, while Swiss lady Conny Perrin beat SShivika Burman of India in 6-3,6-1 game.

Prathana Thombare of India defeated Ushna Suhail of Pakistan 6-0,6-2. Russian-born Nigern r Melissa Ishuan Fiddzhen could not fly past BulrnJulia Terziyska as she was sent parking in 6-0,6-4 match, while South Africa-based Zimbabwean Valeria Bhunu  stopped by Ulrikke Eikeri Norway in 4-6, 6-1,6-3 game.

In the quarter final pairings, Doumbia will face Van Der Dium, Duncan will play Garanganga, Maamoun will battle Setkic in the Men’s Singles.

In the Women’s Singles, Strakhova will play Eikeri, Majeric will go to war against Thombare, Chinese Xiaoni will battle Perrin, while Andrianjafitrimo and Terziyska have a score to settle in the last match of the quarter final.