The cup of Cameroon finals in lawn tennis took place on Saturday September 5th at the court of the presidential guard in Obili-Yaounde with Nkwenti Blaise and Flore Mamo emerging champions in the men’s and women’s categories respectively. In the men’s category, little known Blaise Nkwenti stunned the defending champion, Etienne Teboh 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 to lift the trophy.
Speaking after his victory, Nkwenti said he was particularly elated especially as he won his first cup title against Etienne Teboh who had always defeated him in the past. More so, Nkwenti, 24, started playing lawn tennis only in 2006 at the Ayaba tennis club in Bamenda.
Meanwhile in the women’s category, Flore Mamo outsmarted Lemongo Lorie 7-5, 7-5 to emerge champion. It is worthy to mention that the reigning Cameroon and African champion, Gamo Catina didn’t have a chance to defend her title as she boycotted the cup competition probably due to the fact that lawn tennis was not retained among the disciplines to take part at the ongoing All African Games in Congo.
The winner in the men’s category bagged home cash prize of FCFA250.000 and the unfortunate finalists won FCFA 125000. Meanwhile the women’s champion took home FCFA 150.000 while the vice champion earned 75.000. The lawn tennis federation has been hibernation for long and only got up to organise the cup competition within a week whereas the championship is nonexistent.
