Marylove Edwards is Nigeria’s young tennis champion focused on emulating the great Serena Williams.

Tennis in Nigeria is not popular like football, Edwards fell in love with the sport.

She is trained by her dad; a similar path Serena and Venus Williams took with their father.

Mary love’s father constantly motivates her, highlighting the benefits of playing and excelling in tennis. Both father and daughter have been working towards that goal.

Edwards started playing tennis from the age of four, currently, she’s enrolled at the IMG Tennis Academy, founded by veteran tennis coach Nick Bollettieri, in Bradenton, Florida.

last year, Edwards won her first tournament in the U.S., USTA Celsius Level 6 girls’ 14 & Under tournament. Edwards is under the Temple Management Company (TMC).

The company secured financing for Edwards to return to IMG Academy to begin a full session, tuition fees at IMG Academy range from $55,950 to $79,950 a year.

The founder of IMG Academy, Bollettieri said:

“Now, this young girl is very different. She is a super athlete. Very handy. Only a few can get away with that style.” Serena and Venus Williams also attended IMG Academy.

Edwards participated in the CAT/ITF West and Central African Junior Championship, where she won the Under 14. She is ranked first in Africa for Under 14 Girls.

She trains sometimes in an estate in Ogba, Lagos and a stadium in Surulere.

According to Edwards: “The best part of my game is my ability of never giving up.

Even when I’m down in a match, I still keep fighting. Even when my opponents are older than me and they try to intimidate me, I keep fighting. I never give up.

I want to see myself playing in the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) in the next two years. That will be a big achievement for me.

I could be Nigeria’s first Grand Slam winner in history and who knows, maybe become champion of the world,”.