Bernard Armah Ashitey became National Ranking Tour champion for the second time with a superb performance against Bernard Dugbah in the final winning 2-6, 6-1, 7-5 to repeat his triumph in 2016 Tour 5 and claim a second National Ranking title.

Armah is the second player to win title two consecutive times since Darko won in 2015 (Tour 1 and 2)

"I'm proud to have my hands on the trophy again," said Armah.

Bernard Dugbah who made his National Ranking final debut was gracious in defeat.

“Congratulations to Armah for having won the tournament once again. He played a super match, I played my best in tough conditions, i kept fighting but in the end i lost the title. I think playing in the final has given me a lot of motivation and confidence,”

Armah, was playing his 3rd National Ranking final and for the first time he was the favorite, having faced Daniel Quartey in the previous final.

First set

Dugbah weathered the storm and Armah simply could not maintain, with a double fault and a forehand shot into the net for a 3-1 lead, still with a lot of energy, Armah made double break when net, Dugbah won 6-2.

2nd set

The comeback was well and truly on when Armah moved to 0-40 at the start of the second set and  showed his mettle when it mattered with the match starting to run away from him, clinging on to take the game. Armah sank to his knees when Dugbah fired a forehand over the baseline; Armah won 6-1

3rd set

The final set Dugbah took a commanding 5-2 lead, Armah took his serve to 5-3 and broke him to 5-4, Armah’s serve with desperate intent, smashing an unreachable winner to get back to five all. In the 11th game Dugbah double-faulted again he gave up two break points, at 6-5, the set was in his hands, rather than his legs. Dugbah saved two of three set points then dumped a return into the net.

“I had to fight very, very hard, it was tough going into the [third-set], having been broken twice serving for the match just managed to get there in the end and It was an amazing atmosphere” said Armah.