Nigeria holds first Red Ball Tennis Tournament

Nigeria’s commitment to justify ITF’s identification as one of Africa’s leading hubs for talents was boosted over the weekend as the first Red Ball tournament in the country took place at the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja.

Over a dozen kids featured in the programme tagged MP Tiger Tennis 8&Under Red Ball Mini Round-Robin Tournament which was supported by the London Tennis Association through its top oficial Patrick Hughesman.

The Red Ball programme according to the ITF is the foremost basic teaching of tennis as the ball has low pressure which makes it stay longer in the air thus allowing kids time to make more rallies and keeping them longer in the game.

“It makes tennis more fun for the kids because it helps them to work on the ethics and its motivating to see kids of about five years rallying up to 30 times unlike the normal ball with which you can hardly see them rally five times. They want to stay longer in the game and that is good to keep their interest in the sport,” Paul Moses, a Professional Tennis Registry UK-certified coach said.

The mixed event saw Tobi Ayoola defeat Sheni Oshikoya in the final of the 5&6 category while Toluwashe Dele-Oshiga made good use of his experience he gathered at the LTA Red Ball Tournament in Roehampton, London in August as he beat Sarah Chebli to emerge champion in the 7&8 category.

The programme has already caught the attention of the Nigeria Tennis Federation which has also declared its full support.

NTF boss, Sani Ndanusa thanked the initiator noting that in the last few years, MP Tennis in conjunction with the Lagos Country Club has been playing a big role in the growth of Nigerian tennis through its numerous developmental programmes.

“In the past few years, some of our junior national players featured in the clay court tournaments at the club as part of preparation for an African Championship in Tunisia which they did very well. An attestation to this fact is the ITF scholarship which is being enjoyed by Oyinlomo Qaudri in Morocco,” Ndanusa pointed.

Quadre, Serena lead Nigerian junior tennis players to London

Nigeria junior players are taking no chance in maintaining their dominance of the West African region as well as closing the ranks among the top teams in the continent as no fewer than six of the country’s players are scheduled to feature in international tournaments across Europe this month.

The first batch of players will be led to the UK where reigning West African champion in the girls 14 & Under, Oyinlomo Quadre will rub shoulders among the best players in the globe at the Barnett Ross Oakleigh Park Open Junior Tournament holding from August 10-14 in London.

Filippo Trombi will also be featuring at the Bishops Park Ratings Tournament scheduled for August 12-14 while Serena Teluwo, 9, who has been identified as one of the country’s star prospects due to her exposure, will star at the South East Junior Tour – Tennis England 10&U tournament billed for August 13-15.

The last of the nation’s team to London is eight-year-old Toluwashe Oshiga who will be in action for the 2015 Aneel Sports Summer Tournament billed for August 17-21.

The quartet, who have been training for their various tournaments at the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja under the watch of coach Paul Moses, a UK Professional Tennis Registry certified coach are scheduled to depart Lagos on August 6.

They will be joined in London by the duo of Lolade and Reya Holmes, who will be heading for another tournament in Spain which commences early next week.

NTF President, Engr Sani Ndanusa urged the players to seize the opportunity of the trip to improve their game pledging that the NTF will continue to support the career of the young players in their quest to become superstars.

All the players took part in the inaugural MP Tennis Championship held this match which served as tune-up tournament for the African Junior Championship held in Tunisia.