Abayomi wins Zenith ‘Next Generation’ Junior Tennis Masters

Unseeded Philip Abayomi capped his string of upsets in the round robin phase with a 9-5 victory over Godgift Timibra in the finals of the inaugural Zenith Bank “Next Generation” Junior Tennis Masters, which ended at the National Stadium, Lagos at the weekend.

Abayomi, who was playing his first ever final on the national stage, started a bit tentatively but loosened up and started hitting out when he got the first break to lead 4-2. Riding on the loud support of members of the stadium-based Mainland Tennis Club the ‘revelation’ of the tournament was hardly threatened as he coasted home with the title.

The girls’ event was easily won by Oyin Quadre, semifinalist in the Girls 16 of the African Junior Championship held in Tunisia early April.

Quadre beat Toyin Asogba 9-1 in the final.

The finals, which was played before a full arena, attracted several dignitaries, including Mrs. Toyin Hassan-Odukale, a tennis patron, who was special guest of honour.

In her brief remark, she acknowledged the enormous tennis talent that abound in Nigeria and urged all stakeholders to work harder to take tennis to primary and secondary schools across the nation in order to fish out more talents.

“You never know where the next champion could come from,” she concluded.

All the 16 players were given customised bags and gift items, while the winners and runners-up got tennis rackets in addition.