Ambode Draws Curtains On Lagos Open Tennis 2018

SUNDAY AKINTOYE

Governor Ambode (middle) was at the closing ceremony of the 2015 Governor’s Cup now Lagos Open Tennis

 

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode is expected as the Guest of Honour as the 2018 edition of the Lagos Open Tennis Championship ends on Saturday at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) sanctioned competition started two weeks ago and has seen emerging tennis players from 47 countries of the world competing for ranking points and the 100,000 dollars prize money at stake.

The Governor is expected to watch the men’s singles final and later present trophies to the winner in a closing ceremony which will be witnessed by dignitaries across the country including the chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Chief Pius Akinyelure and a host of others.

Young school children have been mobilised by the organisers for them to be part of the closing ceremony to watch live tennis action from their older ones so that they could pick interest in the game.

Before the final matches, two inconclusive matches will be played as early as 10am on Saturday. The semi final game between former champion, Conny Perrin from Switzerland and Indian Riya Bhatia was suspended after two sets of play due to the fact that it was getting late. Matches were played late on Friday due to rainfall.

Also in the men’s singles, the semi final match between top seed, Tom Jomby from France and compatriot Arthur Rinderknech was also stopped at two sets of play.

Finals in the Doubles will also be decided before the singles finals will be played. Twins brothers from Zimbabwe, Benjamin and Courtney Lock will battle Tom Jomby and Alexi Klegou from Benin Republic in the men’s event, while the pairs of Netherlands’Merel Hoedt from and Noa Liauw A Fong from will face Bulgaria’s Julia Terziyska and Rosalie Van Der Hoek from Netherlands

Riya Bhatia from India