***Ignites Hope for Nigeria’s Next Generation of Stars
The Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) has announced the return of the prestigious CBN Senior Open Tennis Championship, with the 46th edition set to serve off in Abuja on Monday, July 21, and the finals scheduled for Saturday, July 26, 2025, at the iconic Moshood Abiola National Stadium. Preliminary matches begin Friday, July 18.
Backed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the championship has become a powerful engine for sports development in Nigeria—consistently unearthing and grooming the country’s brightest tennis talents.
Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, CBN’s Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali, reaffirmed the Bank’s deep commitment to youth empowerment. “This tournament continues to offer young Nigerians a platform to grow, compete, and shine. It’s about building futures—on and off the court,” she said.
The tournament will feature a wide array of competitions: men’s and women’s singles, doubles, and wheelchair tennis, showcasing the CBN’s enduring commitment to inclusivity in sport. With 64 men and 32 women battling it out in the singles draws, and 32 teams in each doubles category, the court is set for a high-octane display of talent. The wheelchair events will host 16 players per gender.
Over its four-decade legacy, the championship has shaped the careers of celebrated Nigerian players such as Sunday Maku, Sarah Adegoke, Marylove Edwards, Sylvester Emmanuel, and Oyinlomo Quadri—many of whom earned national and continental honours after shining at the CBN Open.
The NTF lauded the CBN’s unwavering support, calling it “the backbone” of tennis development in Nigeria. Their partnership has not only kept the tournament alive for nearly five decades but also fed the national pipeline with athletes ready to represent Nigeria on global stages like the Davis Cup and African Games.
With a fresh wave of rising stars set to take the court, this year’s edition promises fierce competition, national pride, and renewed hope for a future powered by sports.
