Nigeria Tennis Live can authoritatively confirm that Seun Ogunsakin will be playing the 2023 Orange Bowl tournament in the United States of America.
The African number one junior player is among players polled from about 76 countries who will be participating in the tournament which is a Grade A competition being considered the initiation rite of future world tennis champions.
Our correspondent had reached out to Alexander Cercone, one of the organizers of the event, to find out if he had been listed among the players to participate in the event, and she responded thus: “Yes, I see that Seun is registered for the U14 Junior Orange Bowl. You can view that website.”
Checks by Nigeria Tennis Live on the tournament’s website showed that the Nigerian, who currently trains and schools at the ITF High Performance Centre in Tunisia, is one of the players registered to participate in the U-14 category of the competition.
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He will be playing the 14 & Unders Singles matches alone, as stated on the USTA website with information about the tournament.
It was subsequently gathered that the registration only covers the players entry fee for the tournament.
“In the main draw, players are guaranteed two matches. One in singles and one in doubles minimum. Food and lodging are at the player’s expense,” Robert Gomez, the Tournament Director also informed Nigeria Tennis Live.
Ogunsakin’s dad, Coach Wunmi, also confirmed the latest development via a text sent to our correspondent on Tuesday night.
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He wrote: “Yes, he will be leaving Abuja this coming week.”
Coach Michael Okopi, one of the coaches who worked on Ogunsakin and is renowned for developing future stars, having worked with players like Daniel Adeleye, David Ekpenyong, among others, noted that this was a bright move for the tennis sensation.
He noted that this Orange Bowl competition is a really good step in the right direction for the tennis starlet who keeps turning heads with his performances.
In a chat with Nigeria Tennis Live on hearing the news, Okopi said: “One of my goals is to develop a lot of junior tennis players and working with Ogunsakin has proven to be something to be proud of.
“When I went with Coach Ubale to Togo and I worked with this boy, it was clear to me that he was destined for the top and it therefore no surprise that he is going for the Orange Bowl. I really wish him well as I believe that he will make us all proud”.
Recall that Okopi is also credited with discovering one of Nigeria’s current buzzing youngster, Bright Emmanuel, whom he nurtured from the Apapa Tennis Club through the Apapa Tennis Foundation, among other top junior players.
The Nigerian youngster, a few months ago, was part of a team of African players who went on a tour of Europe, playing tough oppositions in Germany and Belgium in the process.
Also recall that plans to have him play the Junior French and Wimbledon Opens fell off after his inability to secure travel visa.
However, all of that is long in the past now, as he is reportedly set to play in a Grade A tournament which has been won in the past by Roger Federer, Coco Gauf, among others.
With every necessary step already taken and the player already set to leave for the United States any moment from now, Nigerians will be buzzing for the youngster to do well in the international tournament.
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