Nigerian Players Drop On Ranking

The sordid state of tennis in Nigeria is gradually affecting the status of the country’s players not only on the local scene, but in Africa and even at world level.

In the ranking released by the Confederation of African Tennis, CAT, in April, Nigerians are nowhere to be found in the Top 10 of all the categories; senior boys, girls and junior boys and girls.

Tennis Special’s findings revealed that the highest Nigerian player in the African men’s ranking is Shehu Lawal, who is number 26 and he is currently number 1357 on the ATP ranking.

Five other players, Kingsley Enosoregbe, Candy Idoko, Abdulmumini Babalola, Clifford Enosoregbe, and Onyeka Mbanu are on number 37 and 1610 on African and ATP rankings respectively.

South African, Kevin Anderson, is number 1 male player in Africa. He is 33 on ATP, while Tunisian Jazri Malek is number 2 and Rik de Voesk is number 3.

In the women’s ranking, none of Nigerian female players was ranked on the WTA ranking. Those who made the African ranking were not in the top 10. Players like Blessing Samuel; Rose Ojonimi; Beauty Oghenekevwe; Esther Jimoh; Chinenye Izuogu; Sabath Ibrahim; Blessing Anuna, Ronke Akingbade; Abiola Akewula; Osariemen Airhummwunde; Christie Agugbom; Sarah Adegoke and Fatima Abinu were ranked number 16.

South African Chanelle Scheepers is number 1 female player. She is on number 40 on the WTA rankings. Chanel Summonds also of South Africa is number 2 player, she is on number 148 on WTA, while Moroccan Nadia Lalami is number 3 and number 347 in the world.

The junior players were worst hit as their rankings in both boys and girls categories nosedived.

Benmo Oparison is the highest ranked Nigerian junior boy. He is No. 721 in the world. Oparison is followed by Edward Christopher Anefu (911), Emmanuel Idoko (911), Umaru Balami (980), and Emeh Joseph Ubon (986), Sadiq Abubakar Tswako (1226).

Karim Hassan of Egpt was the highest rank Africa player; he is on No.11, followed by South Africa’s Wayne Montgomery (33) and Hassan Ndayishimye (39).

No Nigerian girl was on the Top 20 of the Junior Girls’ ranking.