NAN-S-18
Semi-finals
By Franklin Ohaegbu
Lagos, Oct. 20, 2016 (NAN) Top male seed, Enrique Lopez-Perez of Spain sent off Poland’s Maciej Smola in two sets to berth in the semi-finals of the ongoing Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis at Onikan.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lopez-Perez defeated Smola, seeded eight in two sets 7-6, 7-5 at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.
The match lasted for one hour 45 minutes as the top seed served his ball deep into his opponents half of the court.
Lopez-Perez told NAN that he has his eyes on winning the second leg and would not allow anyone to get on his way.
“My game today was not an easy one; my opponent was determined to win the game.
“But because I am focused on winning the second leg, I didn’t want to leave anything to chance,’’ he said.
Reacting, Smola said that he had hoped to win but gave up when his opponent broke his serve in the tie break.
Meanwhile, Calvin Hemery, number two seed had a tough match against Boy Westerhof of the Nederland in another quarter-finals game.
Hemery defeated Westerhof in three sets, winning 2-6, 7-5 and 6-1 in two hours.
In the females’ match, Bulgaria’s Julia Terziyska, seeded seven, defeated number four seed, Valeriya Strakhova of Ukraine in two sets 6-0, 6-4 to qualify to the semi-finals.
Conny Perrin, number three, seed defeated Tessah Andrianjafitrimo, winner of the second leg of the 2015 edition in three sets, 6-4, 1-6 and 6-4.
Slovenia’s Tadeja Majeric, seeded two defeated unseeded Fatma Al Nabhani in three sets 4-6, 6-1 and 6-4.
NAN reports that the players, who came from 39 countries of the world, are vying for ranking points and the 50, 000 dollars prize money in the men and women’s events.
The grand finale of the second leg will hold on Oct. 22 with Gov. Ambode Akinwunmi of Lagos State present. (NAN)
FOE/ENN/PDE
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(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Peter Ejiofor)