Nigeria’s emerging tennis talent, David Ekpenyong, recently secured his first J100 title in Accra, Ghana, demonstrating his unwavering determination and skill.
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Ekpenyong showcased remarkable resilience as he rallied from a set down to defeat Serbia’s Nikola Jovic with a final score of 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.
This victory marks his third encounter with Jovic, now giving him a 2-1 lead in their head-to-head meetings, with each player previously winning one match.
In the wake of his triumphant performance, the 17-year-old player expressed his elation. He emphasized the significance of clinching his first J100 title, particularly in an African context.
David Ekpenyong recounted his journey, mentioning his efforts abroad and how he narrowly missed a victory in Canada when he reached the J100 final.
He expressed immense pride in himself, his team, his coaches, and Aurum Tennis Academy, which has played a pivotal role in his development.
Describing the rollercoaster experience, Ekpenyong shared, “I feel great because I came into Ghana, I played J60 and won, got to the J100, in the first week, I lost in the finals and I felt bad because I believe winning the J60 should have given me an edge to win the J100, but I lost so badly in that match.”
Ekpenyong attributes his ultimate victory to his unwavering mindset. Despite losing the first set 6-2, his determination to fight back and win became his driving force.
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His never-say-die attitude proved to be instrumental as he clinched the second and third sets 6-4, ensuring the tournament win.
The significant win has propelled Ekpenyong up the junior rankings by 41 places, placing him at 216th in the world. Fueled by this success, he announced plans to continue competing in more tennis tournaments, noting that his next move would be to the United States to further his tennis career.
Ekpenyong’s tenacity and spirit demonstrate a promising future for Nigerian tennis as he continues to make strides on the international stage.
