Over 100 players on Friday, 9 November, stormed the Ikoyi Club 1938 as the second Rainoil Tennis Championship serves off with the qualifying series on Saturday.
ITF Bronze-badge referee, Saidu Musa, who heads the technical team, hinted that more players will sign in by the weekend when almost all the players would have arrived.
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| The courts at the Ikoyi Club 1930 are ready for tennis action as the Rainoil Tennis Open serves off in Lagos. |
The tournament which started as a master tournament four years ago with top eight players in the men and women category has metamorphosed to one of the biggest on the domestic stage with champions in the men and women’s singles pocketing N500, 000 and 400, 000 respectively.
It would also feature women’s doubles which was not included last year when it was held at the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja – a clay facility.
According to the Group Managing Director of Rainoil, Mr Gabriel Ogbechie, the tournament is expected to feature more top quality players hence the need to make it open.
Ogbechie, an ardent tennis follower, hinted that Rainoil is very passionate about tennis hence their support which has hit over a decade.
“But since last year we decided to open it up. This year we are expecting the top 64 male players as well as the top 32 female players on the NTF ranking to take part in it,” the Rainoil boss stated.