Nigerian wins McDan West Africa Open Championship again

By Edna A. Quansah/Shadrack Sam
Accra, April 30, GNA - Nigerian Sara Adegoke defeated 16 year old Angel MacLeod 6-4,6-3 in an all Nigerian affair to win the McDan West Africa Open Championship again.

The 2017 McDan Open was held in a packed atmosphere at the Accra Sports Stadium Tennis Court.

Adegoke becomes the second player to win back-to-back the McDan Open titles equalling Ghanaian player Francisca Nyarko's record set in 2014 and 2015.

In a rather though contest between the duo, it was Adegoke who stood her grounds to defend the title.

In the men's division, the number one seeded Thomas Sethodji from Togo emerged the winner for the first time in his first participation by thumping the Beninois Felix Hounpkevi in a thrilling finals to take the Gold.

Setodji prevailed 6-2, 6-1 over Hounkpevi in the second match of the day

For their efforts, the two champions Setodji and Adegoke received $3,000 and $1,000 respectively as cash prizes in addition to silver trophies and products from the supporting sponsors including Twellium Industries, COCOBOD, GNPC and Babolat.

The first runner up and semi-finalists were also given cash and some tennis accessories.

The minister for youth and sports, Mr Isaac Assiamah at the closing ceremony thanked McDan for the support.

"The tournament has attracted many players from other countries which is also helping in ECOWAS regional integration. I thank McDan group for this achievement and gradually tennis is recapturing it loss glory."

The finals were played in a packed arena which saw the Minister of Youth and Sports, Isaac Asiamah, the Deputy Minister of Communications, George Nenyi Andah, the President of the Ghana Olympic Committee, Ben Nunoo Mensah and the CEO of the McDan Group of Companies, Dr Daniel McKorley, boxing champion Joseph Agbeko in attendance. GNA