Nina, Kucova Lead World Stars To Lagos Governor's Tennis Cup

There is no doubt that the 12th Lagos Governor’s Cup Tennis Championship will be keenly contested judging from the quality of players who have registered for the Etisalat Nigeria and FCMB sponsored ITF tennis championship in Nigeria.
 

Nina Bratchikova of Russia, who reached the second round of the 2012 Australian Open is one of the top female tennis players expected to hit Lagos for the Governor’s Cup, which will hold from 13-27 October at the Lagos Lawn Tennis, Onikan, Lagos.

Nina, ranked 93 in the world has been a past winner of the Governor’s Cup and she is coming to fight it out for the $50,000 prize money for the women’s event with other Governor’s Cup regular faces such as Kristina Kucova of Slovakia (269), Germany’s Anne Schaefer (294), Swiss Conny Perrin, Romania’s Laura-loana Andrei (330), Melanie Klaffner of Austria (384, Karolina Nowak of Germany, Italy’s Lara Rafful, Agnes Szatmari and Ester Masuri.

Some of the Nigerian ladies who have registered for the competition included Fatimah Abinu, Christie Agugbom, Chinenye Ndidi Izuogu, Blessing Samuel, Blessing Anuna and  Osariemen Airhumwunde.

Laurent Rochette from France, who has been a regular face in Lagos, is leading the pack in the men’s category. He is ranked number 203 in the world. Others regular players coming for the championship are past winner Kamil Capkovic from Slovakia (255), Indian Ranjeet Virali-Murugesan (452), Vijayant Malik of India (475), South Africa Ruan Roelofse (489).

Some of Nigeria male players who have registered for the tourney are Shehu Lawal (1406), Candy Idoko (1669) Clifford Enosoregbe (1669), Onyeka Mbanu (1669), Kehinde  Alade Destiny Ford Da Silva, Monday Igbinovia, Samuel Omoile, Ganiyu Yussuf, Pekun Akingbde, Sunday Igbinovia, Omotayo Kaseem Rasaki, Sanni Adamu and Bolaji Olawepo.

Players from 55 countries have signified their interest to feature in this year’s competition. Some of the countries include USA, Spain, France,  Russia, Poland, South Africa, Romania, Slovakia, Slovania, Ukraine, Italy Czech, Bulgaria, Sweden, Denmark, Britain, Ireland, Bulgaria, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Ghana, Omar, Pakistan, Syria, Tunisia and a host of others.