Meet Williams Ukari, Highest Ranked Nigerian Male Player On The ITF

The highest ranked Nigerian male player in the world is Williams Ukari, a national wheelchair tennis player who recently represented Nigeria at the first Para Africa Games in Accra, Ghana.

Ukari, the Nigerian number two player, is actually the highest ranked Nigerian on the ITF ranking released on Monday, 9 October, 2023. He is ranked 136 in the world.

His rise in stock is not surprising to many tennis followers who are conversant with his tenacity and his desire to get better in the racket games.

After winning three gold medals at the Nigerian Para Games held in Abuja in 2022, it seemed there has been no stopping this man.

But he has always complained about the neglect and lack of support for physically-challenged players and is always advocating a total inclusion of the players.

In a brief chat with Nigeria Tennis Live after reaching his highest world ranking ever, the Benue-born player noted that players are always spending their hard-earned money to represent Nigeria at tournaments.

While speaking on his plan to represent Nigeria at the 2024 Paralympics slated to hold in France, he explained that he, alongside some other players, are traveling to play ITF events to earn enough points to represent Nigeria.

“I want to inform you of my plans. I want to use my money to go to tournaments and qualify for Paralympics in 2024,” he wrote in a message to our correspondent.

Speaking further on which competitions he would be attending, he confirmed that he would be going to Canada for the “Bourassa Bavaria Open in Montreal Canada, MTA Open in Turkey and like three next year will give me more points to move closer to Paralympics qualification”.

“The tournaments I mentioned have big ITF points that can give me the Paralympics ticket,” he added.

While speaking on the inability of the players to get sponsorship for the tournaments they are participating in, he explained that “It is our personal money we are using to qualify ourselves for Paralympics.

“Most of us are working tirelessly to make sure we represent this nation well when it comes to wheelchair tennis.”