Nigerian Tennis Players

From our archive

Nigerian tennis players in our archive

Below are some of Nigerian lawn tennis players who have featured in many local, national and even international championships and tournaments, and they include;

Nduka Odizor

is one of the former tennis players from Nigeria; he was born on 28 August 1958 in Lagos. He plays right-handed, won the 1983 Taipei title, reached the fourth round of Wimbledon in 1983 and represented Nigeria at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul and in the Davis Cup from 1986 to 1993. In June 1984, Nduka was ranked 52nd in the ATP singles world ranking, the highest he was ever ranked, and he reached No. 20 in doubles.

Sadiq Abdullahi

Is one of the most successful former tennis players from Nigeria, who was born on 5 February 1960. He participated at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, where he represented his native country and got defeated in the first round by Spain’s Javier Sanchez. He plays right-handed and was the number 262 in the ATP singles ranking of the World when he attained his highest singles ATP ranking on October 14, 1985.

Marylove Edwards

Is one of the junior female tennis players. She was born on 18 March 2005 and started playing at the young age of four which made her one of the youngest lawn tennis players; she also made history as the youngest of all the players in the Nigerian Senior Team ranking. During the central bank senior championship in Lagos, she became the number 4 on the list in the women singles tennis ranking and she was only 12 years of age then.

Sule Ladipo is one of the professional former tennis players, he was birthed on April 9, 1974, in Enugu; he played the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, where he represented Nigeria and he got defeated in the first round by Australia’s Jason Stoltenberg. His highest singles ATP ranking was attained on April 3, 1996, and he was ranked 245th in the world.

Joseph Imeh

Is one of the tennis players from Nigeria. He was born on 9 May 1997 and plays right-handed; he is listed on the ATP Tour as Joseph Imeh Ubon.

Abdul-Mumin Babalola

Is one of the most successful tennis players from Nigeria. He was born on 15 December 1984 in Okene and plays left-handed with a serve and volley game. He has played Davis Cup for Nigeria since 2002, in 49 ties by 2021, and won team silver and doubles bronze at the 2003 Afro-Asian Games.

Tony Mmoh is one of the most successful former tennis players from Nigeria. He was born on 14 June 1958 in Enugu. He participated in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul and was defeated in the second round by the Netherlands’ wild card entry Michiel Schapers. His highest singles ATP ranking was attained on 19 October 1987, when he became number 105 in the world. His son Michael Mmoh, born in 1998, plays professionally for the United States and reached a career-high No. 81 in 2023.

Sylvester Emmanuel

Is one of the tennis players from Nigeria. He was born on 4 April 1998 and has a 13-7 Davis Cup record. He plays right-handed; his current singles ranking was attained on 12 December 2016 when he became number 1097 in the world.

Sarah Adegoke

Is one of the junior tennis female players, she was born on 16 July 1997, she plays Right handed. She was the winner of the Rain Oil Tennis masters Women’s Singles finals.

Other Nigeria Tennis players include; Henry Atseye, Christopher Itodo, Adetayo Adetunji, Wilson Igbinovia, Angel McLeod, Chris Bulus, Michael Oshewa, Matthew Abamu, Blessing Samuel, Sarah Adegoke and more.