I don’t see myself playing the Grand Slam anymore—-Anuna
BY ADEYEMI ROBINSON-ADEFIOYE, LAGOS
Efforts to cruise to the semi-finals doubles of the ongoing 2019 ITF Lagos Open first leg by BLESSING ANUNA and RONKE AKINGBADE met the brick as the duo of NIKA KUKHARCHUK of RUSSIA and FANNY OSTLUND of SWEDEN halted their cruise in the quarter final.
NIKA KUKHARCHUK and FANNY OSTLUND stopped ANUNA and AKINGBADE in a straight of 6-0 6-1 in Women’s double which was one sided match.
The duo of ANUNA and AKINGBADE were no match for their counterpart from Russia and Sweden.
ANUNA who is number 6 ranked Nigeria female player in an exclusive interview with www.sunrisetimes.com.ng described the game as beautiful because she is hanging on the court after a long while adding that she is happy performing beyond expectations.
ANUNA said getting to the quarter finals of Lagos Open in the doubles was not a great achievement because people getting to the semi-finals are human being like her. She also said inability to play in the singles main draw was due to lack of tournaments in the country.
“Beautiful, nice because I am still hanging on the court, after a long while off active tennis I feel happy apart from doing well or not doing well on the court, I am having fun.
” Getting to the quarter finals can never be a great achievement for me because those who are playing in semi finals and final are women like me but I am just happy that I am still there.
“Lack of tournaments was the major factor why most of us did not get to the main draw in the singles because if you played tournaments definitely you will improve, let’s say, after the CBN Tennis tournament we played in June, four months ago we have played any tournament except this, and let’s say we had 10 Tournaments before the Lagos Open, one will be more fitter than one is right now .
“We don’t have a good structure for trainings in the country, no equipment that we can boost of, all we do is to go to the court hit the balls even without coaches to give you instructions of how things are being done in modern days tennis.
The one time CBN champion stressed she is through with the game of tennis mentally because a lot is in her head and need to establish herself in other ways apart from tennis due to age .
