Bunmi Ogunyale
Nigerian players have been dumped out from the ongoing Lagos Open Tennis Championship at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, Lagos.
The Nigerians fell like a pack of cards to the foreign players in the first round of the tournament.
In some of the matches decided, Zimbabwe’s Lock Benjamin outstroked Thomas Otu by 6-2,6-2, Tom Jomby from France thrashed Clifford Enosoregbe by 6-3,6-2, Klegou, Alexis of Benin defeated Nigerian born Ireland player Adebola Obasoto by 6-0,6-4, Nastja Kolar from Slovenia pummeled Osabuohien Adesua by 6-0,6-0.
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In other games, Slovakian Mihalikova, Tereza battered Akingbade Ronke by 6-0,6-0, Bulgaria’s Terziyska, Julia sent packing Nigerian born Briton, Tiffany William by 6-0,6-2, just as Indian Yadlapalli, Pranjala walloped Aanu Aiyegbusi by 6-0,6-0.
Speaking after the tie, Nigerian born US-based tennis player, Ayeni Olukayode Alafia Damina has lauded the organisers of the Lagos Open Tennis Championship.
The 19-year-old player said; ”I’m so happy playing this tournament second time. There is high level of competitiveness in the Lagos Open.
This is so because any tournament in the range of $25,000 always see tough players coming around to play.
“I didn’t do badly judging from the time I arrived the country two days ago and the time I played today. I have not been able to aclimatize very well. But I was so happy playing in the tournament
“I was here in 2015 and I can see that the organisational aspect has gone professional from the venue and the hotel. I think the organisers can improve on what is on ground now for future tournaments.”