ABUJA – Antal van der Duim of Holland on Saturday emerged winner of the men’s singles event of the Tombim Abuja Open, after beating number two seed Mohammed Safwat of Egypt.
The tournament’s number three seed who is 355 in world rankings won the final match 7-6, 6-3 at the Abuja National Stadium.
Speaking after the final, Duim told NAN he was delighted with the turnout of event because he never thought he would be the winner.
“I am so happy with the turnout of events and beating the top seeds of the event in the semi-finals (number one seed Perez Sanz of Spain) and in the final was really an achievement.
“I hope to do more next week and I hope to bring out my best tennis too,’’ he said.
On his part, Safwat who is ranked 259 said Saturday was not his best day as he did not play his best tennis and was mentally not in the game.
“Today was not my good day and mentally I was not in the game. My opponent took advantage of that and played good tennis.
“I had the opportunity to turn the match around but I did not do that. But overall, it has been a good week for me as I was runners-up twice, in the singles and in the doubles,’’ he said.
On the competition generally, Safwat said the officiating was okay generally.
“Though we had some hitches here and there, but we are all human and it happens everywhere in the world,’’ he explained.
NAN reports that in the final of the men’s doubles, the pair of Nicolas Meister of the U.S. and Sanz of Spain emerged winners.
The duo defeated the Egyptian pair of Karim Maamoun and Safwat 6-3, 6-4.(NAN)
