Accra, Dec. 12, GNA - The maiden edition of the Areeba Tennis Open Championship received a disappointing low patronage on day one, as a handful of spectators witnessed the event at the Frank Ofori Tennis Court at the Ohene Djan Sport Stadium in Accra on Monday. The patronage was a sharp contrast to the hype and support the Davies Cup enjoyed back in July.

Sixty-four male players, five of them from neighbouring Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire and Nigeria were in action on the first day with 32 of them qualifying for the next stage of the competition on Tuesday. Among the top fixtures for the second day of the championship are Fredrick Egyir, who was part of Ghana's Davies Cup Team that played Georgia in July this year, coming up against Dugba Bernard; while Owusu Mumford takes on Sigue Aboubakari of Cote d'Ivoire. Michael Nortey, another Davies Cup player, would be up against Edward Quacoo; with Ivorian Kofi Akpe competing with Fredrick Owusu Ansah.

Organisers of the championship said they were expecting an improved patronage as the competition progressed.