By John Egbokhan
A total sum of $80 000 is to be shared amongst all the tennis players who make it to the main draw of the Lagos State Governor’s Cup Futures I and II, holding between October 15-30 at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club.

While the ladies will share $50 000, with the singles champion, getting the highest amount, their menfolk are expected to make do with $30 000.

With the close of entries last Thursday, any player who did not submit his entry for the competition, via, the website of the ITF, can fiorget about participating in the event, which yearly, draws tennis players from more than 40 countries of the world with over 200 taking part.

The Men’s Singles of the first leg of the 10th edition held last year was won by Amir Weintraub of Israel who beat Karan Rastogi in straight sets of 6-4,7-5, while the Women’s Singles was won by Slovak Zuzana Kucova who defeated her French opponent, Natalie Piquion in straight sets of 6-2,6-0.

The duo of Amir Weintraub and Boy Westerhof walked over Laurent Rochette of France and Diels Desein of Belgium to win the Men’s Doubles, while the pair of Nina Bratchikova of Russia and Agnes Satmari of Romania beat Anna Brazhnikova of Sweden 6-4, 6-3 to win the Women’s Doubles.

The second leg of the Men’s Singles was won by India’s Karan Rastogi, who upset South African Raven Klaffner in a game that ended 6-2, 6-7, 7-5. In the Women’s Singles, tournament favourite, Slovak Zuzana Kucova was stopped by Russian Nina Bratchikova in straight sets game of 7-5,6-1.