The first leg (Futures 3) of the 15th Governor’ Cup Lagos Tennis Championship is coming to an end Saturday with the finals of singles at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.
Tessah Andrianjafitrimo from France, who is coming to Lagos for the first time won her way to the final of Women’s Singles as she defeated Norwegian Ulrikke Eikeri. The 17-year-old French lady, who is the tournament number 8 seed upset number 6 seed Eikeri in straight set of 6-3,6-4 in the first semi final match, while Slovakia’s Tadeja Majeric beat Conny Perrin of Switzerland in 6-3,4-6,6-2 game.
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| South Africa’s Lloyd Harris lost out to a superior fire power in the semis of the tournament. |
Andrianjafitrimo described her semi final tie as one of the most thrilling games she has played on court in recent time, adding that her opponent was equally a good player.
“This was a tough game because Eikeri was pretty good on court, but I’m so happy qualifying for the final. As to my final match against Majeric in the final, I don’t know much about her because I have never seen her playing, but I believe there is no cause for alarm,” Andrianjafitrimo said.
In the men’s singles, Zimbabwe’s Takanyi Garanganga (number five seed) could not survive the heat in his match against number six seed from France, Sadio Doumbia,who he bowed to in straight set of 3-6, 3-6 in the first semi final game, while top seed, Bosnia’s Aldin Setkic defeated South African Llyod Harris in 7-6(3), 6-2 game.
Garanganga said he started against Doumbia very slowly, adding that “Doumbia took advantage of this lapse to win the match.”
The Zimbabwean star said that he would rest for the weekend and prepare himself for the second leg next week.
Meanwhile, the women’s doubles final was won by the duo of Margarita Lazareva of Russia and Valeriya Strakhova of Ukraine after they defeated the pairs of Valeria Bhunu of Zimbabwe and Ester Masuri of Israel.