David Ekpenyong, an exceptional Nigerian tennis talent, recently secured his first J100 title in Accra, Ghana, demonstrating his remarkable determination and skill.
He showed great resilience as he rallied from a set down and defeated Serbia’s Nikola Jovic with a final score of 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.
This victory marked his third encounter with Jovic, giving him a 2-1 lead in their head-to-head meetings.
In the wake of his triumphant performance, the 17-year-old player expressed his elation and emphasized the significance of clinching his first J100 title, particularly in an African context.
Ekpenyong recounted his journey, mentioning his efforts abroad and how he narrowly missed a victory in Canada when he reached the J100 final.
However, he expressed immense pride in himself, his team, his coaches, and Aurum Tennis Academy, which has played a pivotal role in his development.
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Ekpenyong’s never-say-die attitude proved to be instrumental as he clinched the second and third sets 6-4, ensuring the tournament win.
His ultimate victory has propelled him 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.
David Ekpenyong’s tenacity and spirit demonstrate a promising future for Nigerian tennis as he continues to make strides on the international stage.
