By Austin Edemodu
The President of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, has reaffirmed his commitment to repositioning Nigerian tennis through sustained reforms, increased competitions and strategic investments aimed at producing players capable of competing successfully on the global stage.
Ochei made the pledge at the grand finale of the 6th edition of the DAVNOTCH National Open Tennis Championship, held at the newly renamed Ifedayo Akindoju Tennis Courts of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
He said the Federation, in collaboration with committed private sector partners such as DAVNOTCH Nigeria Limited, would continue to expand the domestic tournament calendar to provide ranking opportunities and expose Nigerian players to high-quality competition.
The NTF President commended the standard of play displayed throughout the championship, describing it as further evidence of the immense talents available in the country. He urged players to remain disciplined, focused and committed to excellence, assuring them that the Federation would continue to pursue reforms that would strengthen the nation’s tennis ecosystem.
In the men’s singles final, Abubakar Yusuf staged a remarkable comeback to dethrone Nigeria’s number one player, Canice Abua, winning 3-6, 4-6, 6-1 to claim the championship title in one of the tournament’s most thrilling encounters.
The women’s singles final also produced a major upset as defending champion Success Ogunjobi fought back from a set down to defeat Nigeria’s women’s number one, Itoro Bassey, 3-6, 7-5, 6-1, successfully retaining her title.
Andrea Usoh emerged champion in the women’s wheelchair singles event, adding another highlight to a championship that showcased the depth of talent across different categories.
In a significant boost for Nigerian tennis, the Managing Director of DAVNOTCH Nigeria Limited announced an upward review of the tournament prize money. The men’s singles champion received ₦1 million, while the women’s singles winner earned ₦800,000, reflecting the company’s growing investment in the development of the sport.
The Managing Director praised the determination, discipline and sportsmanship displayed by the players throughout the championship and reaffirmed DAVNOTCH Nigeria Limited’s long-term commitment to nurturing tennis talents and supporting the growth of the game in Nigeria.
The six-day championship, organised by DAVNOTCH Nigeria Limited in conjunction with the Nigeria Tennis Federation, once again underscored the importance of public-private partnerships in promoting sports development and creating opportunities for Nigerian athletes to excel both nationally and internationally.
