The Tennis Players Parents Association has officially launched its TPPA/UR Regional Tournament, which will run from February 19 to 23, 2025, across various states in Nigeria.
The event will feature young tennis players vying for recognition, ranking points, and educational grants, providing a platform for the country’s rising tennis stars.
The tournament will be held concurrently in six cities from February 19 to 22 in Abeokuta, Ibadan, Benin, Ilorin, Kano, and Owerri, with each city hosting its respective regional competition at well-known sporting venues.
Abeokuta’s competition will be at the Abeokuta Sports Club, while Ibadan’s event will take place at the Adamasingba Stadium.
The Kwara State Stadium in Ilorin and Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri will also serve as venues for the tournament.
In Benin, the Edo State Sports Commission will host the event, with Kano Club in Kano completing the list of competition sites.
The excitement continues in March, with additional regional events scheduled for Uyo and Port Harcourt.
In Uyo, the tournament will run from March 6 to 9 at the Ibom Hotel Tennis Club, while the Port Harcourt Club will host the event on the same dates.
Segun Aluko, President of the TPPA, highlighted that this tournament is part of an annual initiative aimed at helping young players advance to the national level.
“The overall goal is to make this event an annual fixture, allowing players, parents, and journalists to prepare well in advance,” Aluko stated.
He said the importance of regional participation, where players qualify from their respective regions before advancing to the national stage.
A key component of the TPPA tournament is its integration with the Universal Tennis Rating, an international grading system that helps assess players’ abilities.
Aluko explained that UTR points will be awarded in the regional competitions, ensuring that only dedicated players committed to becoming senior tennis professionals benefit from the system.
“The idea is to make sure those who earn UTR points are serious players aiming to go far,” he added.
In addition to UTR points, top-performing players will also be eligible for educational grants, further incentivising the youth categories who are eager to develop their tennis careers.
Jude Osagie, a TPPA member, explained that the UTR grading system is automated, ensuring fairness in awarding points based on the level of competition players face.
“Top performers with a certain number of UTR points could earn full scholarships to international institutions, opening doors for future tennis stars,” Osagie noted.
This regional tournament is another step in the TPPA’s commitment to fostering tennis talent in Nigeria, providing the next generation of players with the tools and opportunities to succeed both on and off the court.
