The upgraded Lagos Open Tennis International Championship serve off Saturday (today) with the first of two rounds of qualifying matches where no fewer than 12 Nigerians are listed for action.
According to information from the NTF Secretariat, which has been temporarily moved to the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan venue of the 15-day tournament, two rounds of qualifiers would be played before the main draw commence on Monday.
The last batch of foreigners taking part in the $100, 000 prize-money are due in Lagos Sunday while the early birds include Tiffany William, a Nigerian-born British player, Alexnadria Riley (U.S.A.), Jesman Jebawi (Germany) Zoe Kruger, Phillipe Gelade, among a host of players from 47 other countries who will be vying for ITF points.
Tournament Director, Prince Wale Oladunjoye told New Telegraph on phone that arrangements for a memorable and perfectly organised tournament are in place calling on all lovers of tennis to come and watch the next set of superstars in action.
“A whole lot of the top players in the game have passed through this same tournament before and we are sure some of the names that would be making airwaves across the globe in the coming years will be featuring here in Lagos particularly with the upgrade of the tournament,” he said.
NTF boss, Dayo Ifedoju charges Nigerian players to use the tournament as an avenue to develop their game further.
He pointed that the number of players from other countries that would be participating in the tournament shows that they are having a huge privilege to have a championship of this status holding in Nigeria.
Akindoju expressed confidence that Nigerian players are in shape for the tournament and can rough the feathers of their foreign counterparts having took part in recent national tournaments including the Vemp Open which he sponsored in Abuja at the start of the month.
