Tournament number one seed in the men’s category, Spain’s Enrique Lopez-Perez, is justifying his rating in this year’s Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship as he is cruising his way to winning the second leg (Futures 6) of the competition.
On Thursday, Lopez-Perez, who won Futures 5 last weekend, had a smooth ride to the semi final as he defeated number 8 seed, Maciej Smola of Poland in straight set of 7-6,7-5 to set up a clash against Moez Echargui of Tunisia on Friday. Moez defeated Sasi Kumar Mukund of India in 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 match.
Injured Egyptian Karim-Mohamed Maamoun could not complete his game against Gianni Mina of France as he retired in the second leg of the match that was stopped at 6-1,2-0. The French will battle compatriot Calvin Hemery in the semi final. Hemery beat Boy Westerhof from The Netherlands 6-2,7-6,6-1 game.
In the Women’s Singles, number 7 seed, Julia Terziyska from Bulgaria upset number 4 seed,Valeriya Strakhova of Ukraine in straight set of 6-0,6-4 to set up a semi final tie against first leg winner, Tadeja Majeric from Slovakia who beat Omar’s Fatma Al-Nabhani in the quarter finals.
Conny Perrin of Switzerland beat Tessah Andrianjaftrimo of France in 6-4,1-6,6-4 game. Perrin, runner up in Futures 5 last week, will face number one seed, Valetini Grammatikopoulou from Greece who defeated Deniz Khazaniuk of Israel in 7-6,4-6,6-1 game.
Meanwhile, Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode will be special guest of honour during the closing ceremony of the 16th edition of the Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship on Saturday.
While the women’s singles final will begin by 12:30pm, the men’s singles final will start by 3pm,a match the Governor and his entourage will watch.
As expected, the final ceremony will be a colourful ceremony with the Local Organising Committee, LOC promising a glamorous event. Secondary students across Lagos State and many tennis pundits will storm the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club for the final ceremony.