Top-seeded Ohunene Yakubu claimed the girls’ singles crown at the ITF World Tennis Tour Junior J30 Tournament, defeating second seed Success Ogunjobi 6-2, 6-4 in Saturday’s final.
Spain’s Javier Montes, the eighth seed, beat Nigeria’s fourth seed James Benjamin 6-1, 6-3 to claim the boys’ singles title.
In the girls’ doubles, Zimbabwe’s Rutendo Mavhenyengwa and Rutendo Tom edged Nigeria’s Bright Emmanuel and Nenrot Suwa 7-5, 1-6, 10-5.
The boys’ doubles saw Montes and Vyom Shah defeat Benjamin James and Olawale Gbolahan 7-6, 4-6, 10-6 in a close contest.
Yakubu dominated early, using strong baseline play to take the first set, then resisted Ogunjobi’s late surge to close out the 1-hour, 18-minute match.
Unbeaten throughout the event, Yakubu capped an impressive week, while Ogunjobi earned praise for her resilience despite the defeat.
Yakubu said she was delighted with back-to-back triumphs, saying her confidence has grown and her ranking would benefit. Based in Tunisia at the TFF Performance Centre, Yakubu had earlier won the first J30 Lagos singles event, beating Ogunjobi in that final.
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She said her opponent arrived with renewed determination but focus and discipline helped her secure another win.
“She played better than last time, but I raised my level. Neither leg was easy, and everyone brought their best,” she said.
Yakubu said the doubles win meant a great deal, noting it boosted her confidence, added match time and strengthened her ranking outlook.
She praised the strong field, describing the competition as intense and packed with talented players pushing each other.
Yakubu encouraged the hosts to stage more junior events, saying she hoped for additional J30s and higher-grade ITF tournaments. “
“The organizers should host more. Next is a December event. I will work on drops and cut errors in tight moments,” she said.
It was reported that Yakubu is ranked 715 in the Junior ITF standings and has represented Nigeria with distinction in several junior events.
She has earned medals, tournament wins and top seedings that reflect her steady rise and growing international promise.
Montes, the boys’ champion, said he felt delighted, crediting hard work, patience and belief for guiding him through a challenging week.
“It was a tough match, but I stayed focused. Winning this title means a lot, and I am very happy,” he said.
He thanked his team for their support, saying they kept him composed and motivated at key moments during the tournament.
Montes praised the tournament’s organisation, saying he enjoyed the atmosphere and hoped to return for future editions.
He promised to push harder for more titles as he continues to build his junior career on the ITF circuit.
Meanwhile, Nigeria Tennis Federation, NTF, President Victor Ochei said the past two weeks of junior action in Lagos boosted national tennis development.
He said the event aligned with the NTF’s long-term goal of nurturing young players capable of sustaining Nigeria’s global presence.
Ochei said the federation planned to increase junior events nationwide, providing young athletes with the exposure needed to grow.
“To excel, Nigeria must invest in youth. We need a strong pipeline of players who can elevate the sport,” he said.
He said facing foreign opponents in Lagos lifted the level of Nigerian juniors, who gained from competing against better-trained rivals.
He added that the NTF was replicating such exposure locally by allocating training time for young athletes and coaches nationwide.
Ochei confirmed that some Nigerian juniors had departed for events in Morocco, with others set for Angola’s African Youth Championship.
He said their growing exposure reflected the NTF’s commitment to unlocking more opportunities for emerging players.
The federation, he revealed, is finalising a 10-year National Grassroots Tennis Development Plan scheduled for launch in 2026.
He said the programme would target children aged 0–14, creating a pathway from introductory tennis to elite development.
“That is how we build a generation who inspire the next wave,” Ochei said.
He assured senior players of continued support, promising better facilities and sponsorship to maximize their potential.
Ochei hailed the J30 Lagos success, saying it showed Nigeria can soon host bigger and more prestigious ITF junior events.
“Faithful in little, faithful in much. We have mastered smaller events, so we will push for J60, J100 and beyond,” he said.
He added that preparations were ongoing for next year’s Davis Cup and other major competitions expected to strengthen national tennis.
NAN
