Ghanaian players tumble in first round

All three Ghanaian players on court at the opening day of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Men's West Africa Masters Satellite Tournament underway at the Accra Sports Stadium Tennis Court crashed in the first round.

The biggest of the three casualties was Henry Adjei-Darko, Ghana's number two seed, who lost in a hard-fought three sets match 6 - 7(5-7), 6 - 3, 4 - 6 to Italian Fredrico Torresi at the centre court.

This was after Henry's junior brother, Quincy, had lost in straight sets 3-6, 4-6 to Zibusisco Ncube of Zimbabwe. The opening day's rout was completed when Fred Egyir lost 2-6, 2-6 to South Africa's Nick McDonald.

Henry playing his second satellite's tournament on the professional men's circuit was the brightest Ghanaian spot as he battled his more experience opponent in a power serving match before crumbling 7-5 in the tie breaker in the first set.

The Ghanaian was on top of his game in the second set as he attacked the net with some very aggressive play and succeeded in breaking the Italian's seventh serve to win the set. The deciding set was evenly contested as both players relied on their booming serves to greater effect forcing the deciding set to go with serve until the 10th game.

Henry's power serves deserted him as his opponent raced to a double match point advantage to break the Ghanaian's serve to win the match. In other matches played Zimbabwe's Genius Chidzikwa beat Ibrahim Kabiru from Nigeria 6-1, 6-2, Kwami Gakpo from Togo accounted for Nigeria's Abdel-Mimin Babolola 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 whiles Russia's Andre Kojemiakine defeated Francois Tetevi from Benin in straight sets of 6-2, 7-5. The championship continues on Tuesday with the tournament's number one seed Gunther Darkey to feature.