Perez, Dinu Win Lagos Governor’s Cup

The grand finale of the 2012 Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship ended with Spain’s Enrique Lopez-Perez of Spain and Cristina Dinu of Romania made history to win the Men and Women’s Singles of FCMB/Etisalat Nigeria sponsored ITF pro circuit at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan on Saturday.

Perez, who had earlier won the Men's Singles of the first leg, beat other contenders to the crown in the trophy and $15,000 prize money as he defeated South African Ruan Roelofse in straight sets of 6-0,6-4, while Romanian Dinu, who had also won the first leg defeated Switzerland's Conny Perrin in straight sets of 6-2,6-3 in the Women's Singles.

 Perez and Dinu once again entered the history book of names of players that had won the Governor’s Cup back to back. Indian Sania Mirza won both the Futures 1 and 2 of 2004’s Women’s Singles, while in 2009, El Amrani Reda of Morocco and Slovak lady, Zuzana Kucova won the first and second leg of that year men and women’s singles respectively.

 The final ceremony of the 2012 Governor’s Cup was fun filled with a lot of side attractions. Governor of Lagos, Babatunde Raji Fashola, who was the Special Guest of Honour played exhibition matches with the Managing Director of FCMB, Mr. Ladi Balogun and the President of Nigeria Tennis Federation, NTF, Engr. Sani Ndanusa.

Fashola, who was cheered throughout the duration of the matches by students from about 26 schools in Lagos and other dignitaries lost his match to Balogun 0-2, but defeated Ndanusa 1-0. Governor Fashola, who presented the trophies to Perez and Dinu, described the winners as the true champions of the Governor’s Cup.

He praised other players who played especially the foreign stars who were part of the competition to feel Lagos’ hospitality. “I know that next year’s competition will be bigger and better than this year.

I expected to see the faces of these players and many more others in the 13th edition,” Fashola said. Winners of the doubles’ events, Kamil Capkovic of Slovakia and Ruan Roelofse of South Africa (men) and Switzerland’s Conny Perrin and South African Channel Simmonds and their runners up.

Dignitaries that watched the finals included Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Etisalat Nigeria, Steven Evans, President of Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Barrister Sam Egbuchulam, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, LOC, Chief Pius Akinyelure, Lagos State Commissioner for Sports, Enitan Osodi, Chief Molade Okoya Thomas and a host of others.