23rd October, 2013
Taiwo Adelu
Nigerian players are making their impact felt in the doubles events of the ongoing 13th Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship.
Except for Shehu Lawal and Kehinde Alade, other local players have been shown the exit doors, crashing out in the first round of the sIngles of Main Draws of Futures 2 of the competition sponsored by Etisalat and FCMB Plc. at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.
But in the doubles, especially in the men’s doubles, some of the local players have qualified for the second round in matches played on Tuesday.
The duo of Nigerian Candy Idoko and Senegalese Daouda Ndiaye walked over Indians Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan and Ranjeet Virali-Muguresan.
Shehu Lawal and Sunday Maku who played up to the semi final of the Men’s Doubles in the first leg, beat Clifford Enosoregbe, a Nigerian and Canadian Eric Vehovec-a one handed player, in a game that ended 4-6,6-2,10-7.
Umaru Balami and Emmanuel Idoko defeated compatriots Kehinde Alade and Henry Atseye in straight set of 7-5,6-2.
In some of the results of matches played Tuesday, in the Men’s Singles, Andre Gaspar Murta of Portugal beat Nigeria’s Samuel Omoile 6-3,6-3
Ranjeet Verali Muguresan of India beat Joseph Imeh-Ubon 7-5,4-6,6-0, while Ruan Roelofse of South Africa beat Nonso Madueke 6-1,6-3.
Futures 1 winner, Borna Coric of Croatia, defeated Emmanuel Idoko 6-1,6-1.
Alexis kleodu of Benin beat Mark Fynn of Zimbabwe 6-3,6-4.
In the Women’s Singles, Cristina Dinu of Romania beat Aminat Quadri 6-0,6-0 of Nigeria.
Tadeja Majeric beat Nigerian Blessing Anuna 6-0,6-0. Dalila Jakupovic of Slovakia defeated Sarah Adegoke 6-0,6-1. Channel Simmonds of South Africa was too much for Rishka Sunkara of India in straight set of 6-3,6-3.
Noami Broady of Britain beat Smriti Joon of India 6-2,6-1, while Swiss Conny Perrin beat Nidhi Chimula of India 6-1,6-1
In Women’s Doubles, Ester Masuri of Israel and Xi-Yao Wang of China beat Ronke Akingbade and Blessing Anuna 6-0,6-1.
Meanwhile, second round matches will be decided on Wednesday. Shehu Lawal of Nigeria will play against Jeevan Nedunchezhyan of India.
Kehinde Alade will take on Ruan Roelofse of South African, while Theophile Segodo of Benin face Borna Coric of Croatia.
Past winner, Nina Bratchikova of Russia will play Jasmin Steinherr of Germany.
Simmonds Channel of South Africa will battle Giora Barbieri of Germany
Dalila jakupovic of Slovakia will lock horns against Anna Morgina of Russia, while Christina Dinu of Romania face Maria Sakkari of Greece in the women’s singles.