The recently-held Tennis Players Parents Association (TPPA) UTR regionals was an eye-opener for players across the different centres in Nigeria.
Not only were new champions crowned, newcomers surfaced and gave the regulars a fight for their money, and earned valuable UTR points in the process.
The Universal Tennis Rating (UTR) tournaments help kids and youths play in their locality and earn points globally, and it is one of the most recognized point-earning competitions globally as it shows the actual playing level of players.
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And the regionals of the TPPA organized ahead of the nationals has proven that talents abound in Nigeria who can hold their own against their opponents.
Nigeria Tennis Live has now curated a list of top tennis talents and players who shone like millions during the event, below are the players and their regions:
ILORIN
Muhammed Abdulakeem: Touted as the next big thing from Kwara State, this youngster has not stopped surprising spectators and bookmakers within his region.
During the recently-held TPPA UTR event in Kwara, he was adjudged the most outstanding player after playing and winning all four matches on the same day in the Boys’ U-12 event at the competition.
Ilorin people believe that he will become one of the best players from their region and he seems to be delivering on the faith they repose in him.
Samuel Akinrinade: He was the finalist at the Boys’ U-12 event in Ilorin which showcased some of the best young talents from that region.
Akinrinade reportedly arrived Ilorin from Offa, another major city in Kwara State, and rested for only 15mins before he took to the courts.
He won all three matches played on the first day and reached the final where he only succumbed to eventual winner, Abdulakeem, after a two-hour fight. Watch out for the youngster.
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IBADAN
At the Ibadan centre of the event, Isaac Blue and Pelumi Faboyinde were quite outstanding during their matches.
According to Coach Tirimisiyu Ganiyu, both players outshone others despite being the youngest among their peers.
“The two players were youngest among their peers in terms of age, strength and they reached semifinals where we didn’t expect.
“The female reached semifinals while the boys was in the group of death or a tough group sort of,” the coach offered.
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KANO
Abdulrasheed Yusuf, winner of the Boys’ U-16 event in Kano and the runner-up of the same event, Walid Sani, were adjudged the best players from the Kano centre.
Sani, it was gathered, played very well but was unable to take the title during the match against the eventual winner.
“Both of them performed very well during the UTR junior tennis championship and they are the upcoming players we are currently working on in Kano,” the Coordinator told Nigeria Tennis Live.
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MINNA
The players from the Minna centre of the regionals did not waste time in showing that they are among the best tennis players across Nigeria after the first round of the UTR competition.
Nigeria Tennis Live checks from the region show that Love Adekunle and Destiny Tomizayi were the most outstanding players from Minna.
Love Adekunle: This youngster who has been making waves on the national junior scene won all his matches and was consistent throughout the event. He was simply described as a fighter by the people who watched him play.
Destiny Tomizayi: Another player who is vastly known across the national junior tennis for her tenacity on the court. During the TPPA-UTR competition, nobody could match the energy showed by the focused player.
READ ALSO: Results From First Leg Of TPPA-UTR Regionals Across Nigeria
ABUJA
Umar Abu Omaye shone like a million stars during his Boys’ U-16 matches and caught the eyes of the top coaches at the Abuja venue of the UTR event.
Before this tournament, he was said to have not participated in the Boys’ 16 event as he was beaten in the U-14 category during the last edition. However, he stood up to be counted and reached the final of the competition this year. A player to watch out for.
The second outstanding player from the Mambilla Barracks venue of the Abuja centre of the TPPA-UTR event was newcomer Ivana Abu.
This relatively unknown player shocked everybody at the Abuja venue as she reached the final of such competition in her first ever tournament as a tennis player.
Coach Isiaka Oshioke, said of both players: “Umar was beaten at the finals of boys 14 last time but this is the first time for him at boys 16 yet he made it to the final against boys that were not new to the category.
“Ivana Abu had not participated in any major tournament before now, however, she fought her way throughout the tournament battling her way to the final before falling to Charity”.
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ABEOKUTA
The two most outstanding players from the Abeokuta venue happened to be two players who have grown through the ranks over the past few years, and deservedly so – Testimony Friday and Emmanuel Ogungbe.
Nigeria Tennis Live gathered that they both started playing tennis at Abeokuta Sports Club, about two years ago and their improvement has been so rapid and they have been so consistent among their equals and even beating some of their 14 and under counterparts.
For almost two years now, the two of them have been playing in the finals of Boys 12 & Under in all the closed tournament in the State.
They both played in the final of the TPPA-UTR Tournament in Abeokuta with Testimony emerging the Champion. They are both ranked 1 and 2 in Ogun State Boys 12 & Under.
More players from other regions will be unveiled once the centres have finalized their matches in the coming days.