Ochei Hails Ogunsakin as Nigerian Ends 35-year Grand Slam Jinx

President of the Nigeria Tennis Federation, Rt. Hon. Victor O. Ochei Esq, FNSE, has praised the remarkable achievement of young tennis prodigy Seun Ogunsakin. Ogunsakin shattered a 35-year Grand Slam silence for Nigeria by clinching a singles match at the main draw of the Junior US Open in New York. This historic milestone surpasses the record set by tennis legend Nduka Odizor at the 1990 Australian Open, who was the last Nigerian to accomplish a Grand Slam main draw singles victory.

The feat is even more impressive as Ogunsakin is part of Africa’s Next Gen, marking the first time since 2003 that three African youth players reached the main draw at the US Open Junior Championships. Speaking on the development, Ochei, who took office as NTF President with a mission to revitalize Nigerian tennis, hailed Ogunsakin's victory as a testament to the reforms and grassroots investments made by his board.

He emphasized that this triumph marks yet another monumental achievement following their successful Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers. According to Ochei, this is not mere luck but a direct result of investing in young talents and providing them opportunities. He commended Ogunsakin for his courage, discipline, and brilliance, stating that these qualities have proven that Nigerian tennis is once again on the global stage.

The NTF President further elaborated on how under his leadership, the Federation prioritized junior development, international exposure, and private sector partnerships, including support for national championships like the DAVNOTCH Open. These strategic initiatives aimed to cultivate champions from the grassroots level. Ochei dedicated Ogunsakin's victory to all young players in academies across Nigeria, urging them to view his success as proof that achieving a Grand Slam is indeed possible. Ogunsakin is set to continue his campaign in the main draw of the US Open Junior Championships.