Four years after he won his first and only Lagos Open title, Aldin Setkic will get a second change at glory in Lagos, when he takes on Calvin Hemery in the first leg final on Monday.
Setkic advanced to the final after an over-two-and-half-hour semifinal contest against Austria’s David Pichler on Sunday. The 31-year-old had earlier completed his quarter-final match against Aziz Dougaz in straights, but needed a third set to beat Pichler, winning 6-3, 5-7, 6-2. It’s been a fine week for the Bosnian on his return to Lagos after four years. He’s dropped only a set so far and will certainly look to mark his return with the title.
On the opposite side of the bracket, Hemery, who hasn’t lost a set all week, looked imperious against Takanyi Garanganga in the semifinal, winning 6-4, 6-0. In an earlier match—the quarter-finals—same day, he defeated Mehluli Sibanda 7-5, 6-4.
Calvin Hemery
While Setkic will be trying to win his second Lagos Open title and 28th ITF Tour title overall, Hemery, who finished as a finalist in 2016, will be looking to go one better for a first title here and 4th on the ITF World Tour.
It’s a first-time meeting between both men and given their form this past week, it promises to be cracking.
In the women’s singles final, Africa’s top-ranked junior, Sada Nahimana of Burundi and Brazil’s Laura Pigossi will go head-to-head for the title in their first-ever appearance at the Lagos Open.
Nahimana has been in sizzling form so far in Lagos, ticking through the draw to reach the final without dropping a set. In the semis on Sunday, she had no problems dispatching Fanny Ostlund, the tournament’s 8th seed, 6-3, 6-1. Set to play in her third consecutive final on the ITF Tour this year, the 18-year-old will aim to cap off what’s been a solid week by securing her maiden ITF Tour title.
Sada Nahimana
Pigossi, meanwhile, progressed to the final after beating Riya Bhatia 6-2, 6-2 in the last four. It will be the Brazilian’s third final this year, as she goes for her 5th ITF title and first since 2016. Like Nahimana, Pigossi hasn’t dropped a set all week and this final encounter will prove to be a tough test for both women. Who’ll walk away with a maiden Lagos Open title?
Laura Pigossi
Pigossi has another title match on Monday, as she and Rutuja Bhosale takes on Sandra Samir and Prarthana Thombare for the women doubles title. The men’s doubles final will see Zimbabweans, Benjamin Lock and John Lock battle Tunisians, Skander Mansouri and Aziz Dougaz.
Order of Play
