Adjei-Darko wins Ogbe Hard Court Futures 11

Benin City — Ghana’s Henry Adejei-Darko and Belgium’s Debbrich Freys were weekend crowned men’s and women’s singles champions respectively of the Guinness Ogbe Hard Court Futures 11 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

First to taste victory in the women’s $10,000 International Tennis Federation approved tournament was 22-year old Freys, who came from a set down to see off the challenge of Futures 1 champion, Ana-Clara Duarte of Brazil, in three sets of 6-7, 6-4, 6-4.

Freys victory as the results shows, did not come without much labour as she had to battle against an unrelenting opponent, itching to make it a back to back victory at the Futures event in Benin City.

In her post-match remarks, Freys expressed her delight at winning her first $10,000 tournament in Benin City, stating that the fans were vital to her victory. “They really supported me and I am so glad to finally win a Futures event in my career”, she said. In the men’s singles final, Futures 1 champion, Togo’s Komlavi Loglo was beaten in three sets by Ghana’s Henry Adjei-Darko, 2-6, 6-3, 6-7.

As in the women’s final, it could have gone either way with both west Africans playing some of their best tennis in recent years, eliciting scenes of cheers from the fans, who for the better part of the thrilling match were on the edges of their seats.

In what would be a truly breathtaking final in the last four years of the Guinness-sponsored tournament, the final match between Loglo and Adjei-Darko, was a sensational match as both players went all guns blazing, hittiing winners with delicate ease, creating the most out of nothing and generally, showcasing how matured their game have been in the last 12 months. Adjei-Darko easily took the first set 6-2 but Loglo came back strongly, in the next set, which he took with a break of serve 6-3.

The decider was a see-saw battle as both seeds held their serve but in the tie break, Adjei-Darko had the last laugh as his well hit volley was hit wide by Loglo as the chair umpire from Kenya, said point, set match to Adjei-Darko, who quietly jubilated winning the Futures11.

“I am happy to be the champion because it was not easy playing against Loglo, who apart from being a friend, is a really good player on the ITF Circuit”, said the Ghanaian.