Lagos – Nigeria’s unseeded Christian Paul defeated unseeded Duncan Mugabe from Uganda, winning 6-4, 6-4 in less than 45 minutes at the ongoing Governors Cup Lagos Tennis to qualify to the quarterfinals.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Paul is the first Nigerian to qualify for the stage in the tournament going on in Lagos.
Paul, a 2012 National Sports Festival gold medallist told NAN on Wednesday that he made the bulky Ugandan play to his tune.
“My game was a tough match, although we did not last long because I made it so.
“I must say that my opponent can play the game good, but because I took time to watch his match, I had to make him play to my rules.
“I made him rally the ball for a long time because I know he is an impatient player when it comes to that,’’ he said.
The impatient Mugabe panicked throughout the match as he lost chances to recover his game.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
“I was in such a hurry to win the game; I thought it would be an easy game for me, but I ran out of luck,’’ Mugabe said.
In another men’s single, Number two seed, Pere Riba from France, defeated unseeded Slyvester Emmanuel, 6-1, 6-0 to also qualify to the quarter finals.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian women crashed out of the women singles.
Number eight seed, Tessah Andrianjafitrimo from France defeated unseeded Osariemen Airhunmwunde in one of the shortest games in the competition, winning 6-1, 6-0.
Unseeded Ronke Akingbade suffered same fate as she was knocked out by Ulrikke Eikeri, seeded six from Norway, winning 6-0, 6-0 in less than 30 minutes. (NAN)
