Governor's Cup Lagos Tennis: Omoile, Adegoke Get Wild Cards, As Main Draws Begin

Eight Nigerian tennis players have been given wild cards to feature in the main draws of the 13th edition of Governor's Lagos Tennis Cup which begins on Monday at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.

This is courtesy of the concession giving by International Tennis Federation, ITF, to local federation to have its players play in the main draws of the Governor's Cup Lagos Tennis Championship.

In the men's category,  Samuel Omoile, Joseph Imeh and Umaru Balamin as well as Senegalese Daodu N'Diaye will join other Nigerians who fought their way through the qualifiers that were decided at the weekend.

In the female's category, the likes of Sarah Adegoke, Jumoke Akingbade, Blessing Samuel and US-based Idia Amen will play in the main draws.

Other players that qualified for the main draws in the qualifying matches are John Otu, Abdullahi Hamidu and Loveth Nnadozie.

The likes of Shehu Lawal, Henry Atseye and Clifford Enosoregbe have their slot in the main draws in tact due to their rankings.

Chief Coach of the Nigerian Tennis Federation, NTF, Ishicheli Benson said that with what he saw at the camping organised for the local players by the federation and the Local Organising Committee, LOC, Nigerians should expect good outing from the players in the 13th edition holding at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.

"We gave some of our intermediate and junior players to play in the main draws and one Senegalese player because of the international exchange programme we are having with the Senegalese. They usually do the same thing to our players," Benson said.

"I'm happy to say that the camping organised for the players was not in vain as some of the players made it through the qualifying matches to the main draws. During the camping, I worked on them on consistency and ability to endure rigorous matches. I think we should expect much from them," he said.