For Michael Olajimbiti Oluwafemi, tennis was not just a sport; it was a lifelong passion ignited during his childhood at the Air Force base where he grew up.
“To start with, my dad was an Air Force Officer, so I grew up in the base seeing different kinds of sports,” he recalls during a chat with Nigeria Tennis Live correspondent.
Originally drawn to football, Michael’s path changed when he attended Christ School in Ekiti State. There, he met a friend who played tennis, sparking a new interest. “I’ve been seeing this sport from my childhood days. So, I want to do this sport,” Olajimbiti reveals on how he started out.
This was the beginning of a journey that Michael describes as something he has “never regretted in my life”.
Michael turned professional at a young age, competing in national tournaments across Nigeria.
According to him: “I started playing a lot of tournaments, National tournaments across the country and my tournaments were pretty good”.
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His talent was nurtured under a grassroots sports development program in Ekiti State led by then Governor Segun Oni, and he quickly rose through the ranks.
One of his most memorable victories came at the All Nigerian Secondary School Games, a testament to his prowess on the court.
While recollecting what happened at the time, the proud tennis umpire said: “I won the All Nigerian Secondary School Games when I was in secondary school,” with another highlight being when he competed in the Supreme Junior Championship in Ibadan, facing off against some of the best young players in the country.
Olajimbiti’s dedication and skill earned him an ITF ranking of around 2,000 in the world at the time and during our conversation, he vividly remembers a particularly smooth match against Wale Babalola from Ilorin at the VEMP National Championship in Abuja.
“My mental alertness was so there and I really enjoyed the game,” he recalls. These experiences, among many others, cemented his reputation as a formidable player in Nigeria.
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Despite his success, Michael’s professional playing career was cut short due to financial constraints and the demands of academics. “The major reason why I quit playing pro [tennis] was number one, I lost my sponsor“.
“It wasn’t really easy combining academics and tennis together in Nigeria,” he adds.
Despite his challenges, however, Michael’s passion for tennis never waned. His transition to coaching was a natural progression, driven by a desire to pass on his knowledge to the next generation.
“I had passion for assisting the other players when the Head Coach wasn’t around. I had passion for coaching,” he says and this passion has seen him inspire many young players in Ekiti and beyond.
For instance, as a coach, Michael has led his university team to significant achievements, including qualifying for the Nigerian University Games (NUGA).
“I led my University to the Nigerian University Games and we qualified in all categories – singles, doubles, and mixed doubles,” he recounts.
His success as a coach is a testament to his deep understanding of the game and his ability to inspire and develop young talent.
Looking to the future, Michael dreams of establishing his own tennis academy. “I have a dream to have a tennis academy where players can learn to play tennis and become international tennis stars,” he tells Nigeria Tennis Live.
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He is also optimistic about the future of tennis in Nigeria. “I see Nigeria coming up in tennis because we can see a lot of tennis players from Nigeria who go to the world and show the world what tennis is like from this part of the world.“
Throughout his journey, Michael has been inspired by several coaches, two of them, he says are, Coach Babatunde Abbey and Patrick Mouratoglou.
“Babatunde Abbey to me has been the topmost because every time he attends to each player, the player gets to the top,” he says of the legendary Nigerian coach.
Patrick Mouratoglou, known for his work with Serena Williams, is another key influence on how Olajimbiti sees himself as a coach.
He says: “Patrick is my role model because I cite a lot of examples from him.”
Michael Olajimbiti’s journey from being a young boy at the Air Force base to becoming a professional tennis player and now a dedicated coach is a story of passion, resilience, and unwavering commitment to the sport he loves.
As he continues to inspire the next generation of players in Nigeria, his impact on tennis is sure to grow, bringing his dreams for Nigerian tennis closer to reality.
“We pray that the economy gets better for tennis players,” he hopes, ever the optimist about the future of the sport in his homeland.
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