FACT CHECK: Highest Ranked Nigerian Player On ATP Not Among Top 20 In Africa

The inability of Nigerian players to make huge impacts at the ITF pro-circuits they participate in frequently has reflected on their ATP rankings, Nigerian Tennis Live checks have revealed.

The players have over the years, complained about the dearth of tournaments and lack of sponsorship to participate in pro-circuits on the continent, a development which has reduced them to bit part players when they challenge their more experienced counterparts on the circuit.

Christian Paul was the highest Nigerian player on the ATP rankings as at February 26, 2018.

And the ITF ranking released on 26 February did not help the players in anyway as they remained anonymous in the top 20 African players on the ATP rankings.

South Africa’s Kevin Anderson who has been the number one player in Africa for years, maintained his spot and is the 9th placed player on world rankings.

Nigerian Tennis Live fact finding showed the highest placed Nigerian on the log, Christian Paul, is ranked 28th on the log as he places 1446 on the ATP while the closest Nigerian to him is Joseph Imeh – Nigeria’s number one male tennis player – who placed 46 in Africa and 1861 on the ATP rankings.

With the disappointing results that often accompany their performances, Nigerian players are often blamed and washed down by the media, but further checks showed that their inability to consistently play on the circuits is a reason they have not recorded great results on the circuit over the years.

The players will look forward to getting better with their rankings when the Futures 1-3 kicks off in April, 2018 at the tennis section of the National Stadium, Abuja.