Rolake Olagbegi, a former Nigerian tennis queen, has stated categorically that Nigerian tennis is getting better than what it used to be in the recent past.
In an exclusive chat with Nigerian Tennis Live, the former African tennis champion, noted that even though the players have not done well at the first leg of the Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship, they are no longer mediocrities.
No Nigerian player could make it past the first round of the ITF Futures which is being hosted by the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, except Christian Paul, a lucky loser who was quickly drafted in to replace the unavailable number four seed.
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| Sylvester Emmanuel was tipped as one of the players to turn heads at the Governor’s Cup Tennis Championship, but pulled out at the last minute due to injury. |
He defeated a Nigerian youngster, Christopher Itodo, to advance to the second round, but was no match for the Indian opponent he met, and that effectively ended Nigerians’ romance in the first leg of the pro-circuit.
After the report on Nigeria’s dismal performance, Mrs. Olagbegi, challenged everyone involved with tennis in Nigeria to rally round the players and give them all the support and motivation they need to excel in their chosen profession with the belief that they can build some confidence from there.
“I think the more they play in these tournaments, the more fit they get, the more their confidence, and that will escalate their rankings.
“We have to support them and cheer them up along the way.
“We are better than yesterday,” the tennis enthusiast stated emphatically.