25th November, 2015
Taiwo Adelu
The International Tennis Federation, ITF, has unveiled the top seeds of the 15th Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship.
According to the ITF, Bosnia and Herzegovina player, Aldin Setkic is the highest ranked star in this year’s tournament.
He is ranked number 231, while French player, Sherazad Reix is leading the female player. She is ranked number 247 in the world.
Pere Riba of Spain (246), Tucker Vorster from South Africa (316), Tom Jomby of France (348), Takanyi Garanganga of Zimbabwe (436), Sadio Doumbia of France (441), Antal Van Der Duim from The Netherlands (444), Michael Mmoh of USA (455), Llyod Harris of South Africa (492) and Karim-Mohammed Maamoun of Egypt (506) complete the Top 10 seeds in the men’s category of Futures 3 of the Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis, which holds from 5-12 December at Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan. The second leg holds from 12-19 December.
Ukraine’ Valeriya Strakhova who is ranked 267 is second seed in the women’s category.
A known face at the annual competition, Slovakia’ Tadeja Majeric will return to Lagos this year. She is the third seed and on number 304 in the world.
Also returning to Lagos for the Governor’s Cup are American Alexandra Riley (843) and Israeli Ester Masuri (1233).
None of the Nigerian players made the main draw entry list.
Moses Michael who won the Governor’s Cup Invitational Championship last year is the highest ranked local male players in the ITF list for this year’s competition.
Michael is on number 1262. Another Nigerian in the ranking list, but in Qualifying category is Albert Bisong Bikom (1429).
Other Nigerian male players in the Alternates list are Joseph Imeh Ubong, Israel Makinde, Sylvester Emmanuel, Umaru Balami and Mohammed Mohammed. They are not ranked at all.
In the women’s category, no Nigerian lady was ranked but only two of them registered. They are Osariemen Airunmwunde and Ronke Akingbade.
The Governor’s Cup, since inception during the tenure of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been a tournament organised to celebrate the sitting governor of Lagos State.
Erstwhile Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola had in one of the previous editions played an exhibition game with the CEO of FCMB, Ladi Balogun to the delight of dignitaries and school children who came to watch the finals.
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode when he assumed office has also magnanimously agreed to sustain the ITF approved tournament.
The world players will be coming to Lagos to fight for the 80,000 dollars prize money with the men’s winners in both Futures 3 and 4 getting 30,000, while the women’s will receive 50,000 dollars.
The Governor’s Cup has been sponsored over the years by FCMB and Etisalat Nigeria and others such as Deux Projects Ltd, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, LIRS, CCECC, Julius Berger Plc, Naston Ltd, LASACO Plc. and a host of other private individuals.
Support is also being received from the host state, Lagos State Government, through the Lagos State Sports Commission.