Nigeria’s rising tennis stars, Atilola Mofifun and Zara Adegoke, have emerged as the standout champions of the second edition of the Tennista Foundation Junior Tennis Tournament, which concluded over the weekend at the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja.
The three-day event, played on clay courts, served as a vital platform for discovering local talent and offered significant rewards, including educational grants and high-quality equipment.
The Champions’ Performance
- Zara Adegoke (U-12 Category): In the girls’ Under-12 final, Adegoke secured a dominant victory over Akpan Mercy with a scoreline of 4-1, 4-2. She expressed that winning the trophy and a new racket valued at $260 would be a major boost for her training and development.
- Atilola Mofifun (U-16 Category): The West African U-14 number one, Mofifunoluwa Atilola, moved up to the Under-16 division for this tournament. She lived up to her billing by defeating Ogunkolade Bisola 4-0, 4-1 in the final, noting that her focus was on the quality of her play and enjoying the transition to clay surfaces.
- Other Winners: In the boys’ categories, Mohammed Naseer claimed the U-12 title with a 5-3, 4-2 win over Awi Rafael, while Afaramai Heman triumphed in the U-16 division, defeating Aluko Nathaniel 4-2, 4-2.
Tournament Growth and Impact
The Tennista Foundation, led by President Michael Nwoseh, highlighted several upgrades to the tournament this year:
- Educational Grants: Winners in each category received educational grants of ₦150,000, with runners-up receiving ₦100,000.
- Pathway to the U.S.: The foundation revealed it is working with the American Business Council Nigeria to forge partnerships with U.S. schools, aiming to secure collegiate tennis scholarships for top-performing Nigerian athletes.
- Infrastructure: For many of the 60+ participants, the tournament was their first experience competing on professional-grade clay courts, a surface emphasized by organizers to help build technical discipline and court coverage skills.
