The fortunes of youngster, Goodluck Tersoo keeps rising after winning the Adewale Isa Foundation Junior Tennis Championship in Lagos a few weeks ago.
The Benue tennis sensation followed it up with a fabulous win at the Gbolahan Odele Junior Tennis Championship in Ejigbo, Lagos a week later before landing at the weeklong CBN Junior Tennis Championship.
Tersoo entertained tennis lovers and enthusiasts who were at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club on Saturday, 7 September, 2024, for the grand finale of the tournament.
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The 11-year-old youngster stole the limelight from his older opponents, winning the U-12 & 14 Boys Singles titles at the CBN Junior Tennis event, while also emerging as the most outstanding male player at the event.
With the heart of a lion to match his fabulous skills, Tersoo dropped the first set in the five set super tiebreak decider against defending champion, Chukwubuikem Amasiani from Abuja in the Boys 12 final but recovered to win 8-10, 11-9, 10.8, 10-5.
He also dropped a set against Lagos-based Isa Yahaya in the Boys 14 event but also came through with a 11-9, 2-10, 10-5, 10-8 win. Yahaya who did not take the loss to a younger opponent lightly, cried all the way to the presentation ceremony.
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Mofifunoluwa Atilola, Nigeria’s impeccable tennis talent who also participated in two age categories, won the Girls 14 and was semifinalist in the Girls 16.
The Lagos-based tennis talent overran Bisola Ogunkolade from the Ekiti team 10-0, 10-5, 10-0 to win the Girls 14 finals, and was consequently adjudged the best female tennis player at the event.
The Boys 16 title was won by David Edwards whose one-handed backhand was at its ferocious best against Chukwudubem Amasiani.
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Edwards dropped the first set against the 14 & Under champion who decided to try his skills in a higher age group before winning 2-10, 10-6, 10-7, 10-6.
Other winners were Gloria Samuel who beat teammate Aina Goodnews in five sets and Success Godwin from the Lagos Mainland club who defeated Mabubat Rasaki from Oyo State in the Girls 12s.
Assessing the tournament, Godwin Kienka Director of the International Tennis Academy, organizers of the ITA Junior Tennis Circuit, said the tournament proved once again that the junior base of tennis talent is well established and compares to any standard in the world.
Adding: “If these boys and girls have the right support, guidance and training, it will only be a matter of time before they start competing at the senior levels of major tournaments in the world.”