NTF Applauds Players’ Conduct at VEMP National Open Tennis Championship

By Arinzechi Chukwunonso

The Secretary-General of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), Shammah Makpa, has commended the exemplary conduct of players at the ongoing VEMP National Open Tennis Championship in Abuja.

Speaking on Friday, Makpa praised the athletes for their professionalism, sportsmanship, and respect for officiating throughout the tournament.

“I give them kudos — they are the real champions of this tournament, not the Federation,” he said. “Their attitude reflects the success of the competition in promoting fair play and discipline.”

Makpa highlighted the high level of competition and strong turnout, with 192 players participating across men’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s singles, and women’s doubles categories. He noted that the exit of defending champions in the women’s singles has opened the door for new talents to shine, which he described as a sign of growth in Nigerian tennis.

“This tournament has not only lived up to expectations but is also achieving its objectives by identifying and developing young talent,” he added, citing players from past editions now representing Nigeria in the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup.

Looking ahead, Makpa revealed that more tournaments are lined up for the year, including the Davnoth Open and CBN Open, which are expected to offer improved prize money and attract even larger participation, with over 128 players projected for Davnoth alone.

“Continuity and consistency are key. We’re committed to providing more opportunities for players to grow,” he said, expressing optimism about the future of Nigerian tennis.

Tournament Highlights:

In the women’s singles semifinal, Khadijat Mohammed defeated Mary Udofa 6-0, 6-3 to book a spot in the final against Etoro Bassey.

In the men’s singles semifinal, Daniel Adeleye came from behind to beat Canice Abua 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 and will face Lucky Danjuma in the final.