Ekpenyong Rises In Latest ITF Ranking, Closes Up On Top 8 In Africa

Slowly, but steadily, Nigeria’s number one male tennis player, David Ekpenyong is closing up on becoming the number one African Junior player.

In the recently released rankings by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the Nigerian teenager moved 20 places to now be ranked 257 in the world, number nine in Africa and number one in Nigeria.

The rankings also make sure that he is only one title win away from catching up with South Africa’s Leo Matthysen the number eight ranked player in Africa.

Matthysen, Nigeria Tennis Live checks revealed, dropped four places to rank 239 in the world, a situation which the Nigerian player can capitalize on to shoot himself further upwards the rankings.

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As it stands, there are chances for the Nigerian teenage player to overtake his South African counterpart and shoot himself further in the rankings if he wins the J100 in Accra, Ghana, where he is currently in the second round.

The South African player, on the flip side, played his last known ITF tournament in September, 2023, a first round loss at the J200 event in Cairo, Egypt.

With Ekpenyong, a two-time J100 runner-up in the last one month, still planning to participate in other tennis competitions before the end of 2023, he may just end up as the top African player and earn a wild card to participate in a Junior Grand Slam.

Tennis followers in Nigeria will be keeping their fingers crossed on the latest developments concerning the tennis player who keeps impressing whenever he plays.