Nigerian Teenager Upsets Future 1 Champion

RETURN… Clifford Enosoregbe of Nigeria returns a serve during yesterday’s Gov’s Cup Future 2 match against top seed Amir Wentraub of Israel. Amir, who won the Futures 1 trophy, lost yesterday’s match 2-6, 6-7 to Clifford. Inset is Amir. Photo: Akin Farinto.

FILE PHOTO: Clifford Enosoregbe in action

Nigerian teenager, Clifford Enosoregbe proved critics wrong at the ongoing 10th Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship when he upset the winner of Futures 1, Israeli Amir Weintraub, who is the tournament number 3 seed.

•RETURN... Clifford Enosoregbe of Nigeria returns a serve during yesterday's Gov's Cup Future 2 match against top seed Amir Wentraub of Israel. Amir, who won the Futures 1 trophy, lost yesterday's match 2-6, 6-7 to Clifford. Inset is Amir. Photo: Akin Farinto.

Clifford, who is ranked number 1123 in the world was too hot for Weintraub, who is number 352 in the tension-soaked match that ended in straight sets of 6-2, 7-6(1).

Right from the beginning of the first round match of the Etisalat/FCMB sponsored tourney,  the Edo State born Clifford, who came to the Governor’s Cup after a tour of East Africa showed the champion stuff in him. The player  received a loud ovation from the fans at the end of the match.

“I’m glad to win this match,” an elated Clifford told P.M.Sports after the pulsating encounter. “Nobody here today would have thought that I could win the match because of the pedigree of my opponent, who won the Futures 1 trophy. It’s always good to face a daunting task with determination and I’m happy that my focus paid off,” he said but a dissapointed Amir declined comments.

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Chairman of the Governor’s Cup Technical Committee, ex-international Thompson Onibokun said: “This was what I’ve been anticipating in the second leg of this championship because having performed poorly in the first leg; I knew our players would bounce back in the second leg. With this victory, my believe is that Clifford will be full of confidence in his next match and I won’t be surprised if he goes far in the tourney. I’m happy that our boys are living up to expectations this week.”

In other results of the first round matches played yesterday, Clifford’s brother, Kingsley, who qualified for the Main Draws through the qualifiers, was too hot for South African Steffen Solomon, who is ranked number 1422 in another straight set of 6-2,6-4. While another home boy Samuel Omoile beat Russian Alexei Filenkov 7-5, 6-4.

Clifford faces Ivorian Valentin Sanon in today’s second round match.

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