The battle for places in the main draw of the 2018 Lagos Open Tennis Championship begins with
the qualifying rounds at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club.
Already, 32 players have been seeded in the main draw of the men and women’s singles events while the
qualifying rounds will produce the remaining 32 players that will join the seeded players in the first
round tie on October 1.
With some former champions returning to the competition with the aim of reclaiming the titles, the
venue of the tournament will be besieged by tennis lovers across the country.
The home players are eager to stop the dominance of the tournament by visitors as the likes of Joseph
Imeh, Christian Plau, Abdulmumini Babalola and Sarah Adegoke are hoping to claim the titles for the
host nation.
Also, the Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the tournament as Governor Akinwunmi
Ambode has pledged support.
According to Tournament Director, Wale Oladunjoye, the governor has promised to host the visiting
players. the “Governor was so elated and confirmed repeatedly his joy and happiness on the change of
name that for a city developing as a mega city now have a tournament named after the city where
international players across the world will take their time to visit and have fun,” Oladunjoye said.
He added: ““The Governor even promised to host some of the players during the competition at the State
House in Marina and also find time to watch them playing at the venue. He told us that he would
particularly have interest in whatever sports or tennis will bring to add glamour to the international
profile of Lagos. The vision for the Lagos Open to become a Challenger Series that will attract more
foreign players is a welcome development for him.”
Over 125 players from 47 countries are competing in the $100,000 prize money championship hat will end
on October 13.