By John Egbokhan
For Nigerian players participating in the Governor’s Cup Futures I, Tuesday  is a day they would not want to remember as no fewer than six of them crashed out in the first round of the singles draw at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.

And this comes despite the touted pre-tournament camping organised by the Nigeria Tennis Federation and the Local Organising Committee of the Gov’s Cup Lagos Tennis, to put the players in prime shape to compete for honours in the tournament ratified by the International Tennis Federation.

Sani Ndanusa, who is the President of the NTF, had said in the days leading to the ongoing tournament, that the tennis camp was going to address the poor play of the players but if accounts of what happened yesterday are to serve as a yardstick of Ndanusa’s projections, then we have to wait longer for a tennis revival.

First to exit the tournament was Bolaji Olawepo, who lost in straight sets of 2-6, 2-6 to eight seed from India, Ranjeet Virali-Muguresan

Henry Atseye, a member of Nigeria’s Davis Cup team, also saw his dream of  reaching the second round of the First City Monument Bank (FCMB) sponsored tournament evaporate into thin air, losing in straight sets of 1-6, 0-6 to another Indian Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan
Abdulmalik Kabiru, a Nigerian player, also lost in straight sets of 0-6, 0-6 to sixth seed from Croatia, Borma Coric.

Samuel Omoile continued the Nigerian losing train with  a 3-6, 2-6 quick sets loss to fifth seed Dino Marcan.