Igbinovia Shuns CBN OPEN

Igbinovia, who is worried at his distant ranking in the ATP, told nigeriasports.com in a chat in Lagos that he could only come to Lagos for the Heineken future and Challenge tournaments that would fetch him ATP points in October. "There is no point wasting time over tournaments that would not yield one any ATP point. I'm now eager to earn ATP points and not money, at least for now", he told nigeriasports.com emphatically at the sportscity.

The believe of tennis officials in Lagos was that Igbinovia stands a better chance of winning the CBN Open to grab the N200,000 at stake. "I should leave it for the up and coming players to improve in their standard. The money will be enough for them to settle one bill or the other as well as settling their immediate and families financial problems", he stated.

The US-based Igbinovia, who lost his bid to clinch the men's title against Henry Adjei-Darko of Ghana, but based in the United States of America, paired the Ghanaian to clinch the men's doubles against the combination of Romano Frantzen and Floris Kilian. The pair of Igbinovia and Adjei-darko had survived an epic first set 7/6(14-12) to come powerfully in the second and third sets they clinched 6/2, 6/4 to win the men's doubles title.

The lanky Igbinovia, who came for the tournament with the ranking of 723, said his semifinals effort and the victory recorded in the doubles would enhance his ranking, which he hopes to improve to between 500 and 600 when the records are being compiled. "I'm itching for ATP points and not money for now", he emphasized.
His doubles partner, Adjei-Darko who won the men's singles over Komlavi Loglo of neighbouring Togo, said he would take a week break in Ghana before returning to the US to resume his training to participate in the planned Future and Challenge tournaments there in the US and Europe.

The Ghanaian in a quick succession dismissed the Togolese 6/1, 6/1 to clinch the men's singles title. He won the second leg also decided in Lagos. He had lost in the quarter finals in the first leg in Togo.
The21-year old Ghanaian told nigeriasports.com that he noticed fitness as his problem after the Togo encounter, and resumed in physical training by running round the National Stadium, Lagos about five times after his daily matches to ensure fitness.

"The exercise eventually helped me as I was able to stand all my opponents. My semifinals against Jonathan was a difficult match for me, but I survived it. I did not underrate Loglo, because I know him a good player, and I took the match very seriously", he said.

Reports: Fidelis Ebu