Unfancied Canice Abua produced a jaw dropping outcome in Nigeria tennis calendar to win 2024 Dala Hard Court.
Against all odds, the Abuja based Abua secured the men’s title yesterday 23 November 2024 in kano, beating former Nigeria number one player David Oparaoji 0-6, 6-1, 6-2 in the final.
Oparaoji looked to be cruising in the first set with a 6-0 advantage.
However, Abua rallied back in the second set to take the game 6-1 and put himself back into the game with a chance to fight again in the final set.
Buoyed by the second set performance, Abua took an outrageous 4-1 lead in the third and final set before closing out the game 6-1 to claim his first senior men’s national crown.
The win puts Abua back in consideration for Nigeria’s 2025 Davis Cup team after receiving invitation to various national team camps.
Meanwhile Nigeria teenage sensation Khadijat Mohammed secured a second successive Women’s Singles title at the Dala Hard Court 2024.
She defeated Mary Udoffa in two straight sets 6-3, 6-4 to clinch her second senior national title.
In the men’s doubles, the pair of Daniel Adeleye and Yusuf Abubakar ensured that they did not leave Kano without a title as they handed Matthew Abamu and Michael Emmanuel a 7-6(2), 6-4 defeat in the final.
