The Tennista Junior Tennis Open is our flagship annual tournament, a competitive stage where young players aged 8–16 test their skills in real match play, with certified officials, real draws, and prizes that go beyond trophies.
They earn educational scholarships, rackets, and kits because at Tennista, every big swing is backed by a bigger future.
What began in 2025 with 55 athletes at Rowe Park, Yaba, has grown into a multi-category tournament at the Lagos Country Club, with a pathway toward US collegiate scholarships now in the making. Here's the journey so far, edition by edition
The maiden edition of the Tennista Foundation Junior Tennis Tournament unfolded over four days at the Lawn Tennis Court, Rowe Park, Yaba, Lagos, in partnership with the Lagos Tennis Association and with the backing of the Lagos State Sports Commission.
A total of 150 children registered to take part, with 55 young athletes competing through preliminaries all the way to the final.
The tournament concluded with David Edward and Goodnews Aina winning the Boys' and Girls' U-16 categories, respectively, while Benjamin Joel and Benjamin Ndifreke were the runners-up. The Tennista Foundation awarded each winner ₦100,000 in scholarships, and the runners-up received ₦75,000 each.
The second edition marked a clear step up in scale and ambition, moving to the clay courts of the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja, and running as a three-day event from April 16 to 18, 2026.
Over 60 players participated in the boys' and girls' categories, with a new U-12 division added to the existing U-16 category, allowing younger talent to shine. Zara Adegoke and Mohammed Naseer claimed the U-12 titles, while Atilola Moffun and Afaramai Heman won the U-16 categories.
Winners received educational grants of ₦150,000 along with a racket worth $260, tennis balls, and bags, while runners-up received ₦100,000 and similar items.
Beyond the court, the Foundation announced a new strategic partnership with the American Business Council aimed at securing collegiate tennis scholarships in the United States for Nigerian players, alongside continued support from the Lagos State Sports Commission and the Lagos Country Club.
Two editions in, the tournament has shown a clear trajectory of growth, expanding from 55 competing athletes in a single age category in 2025 to over 60 players across two categories in 2026.
The 2027 edition is positioned to build on that momentum, though the venue, dates, and target participant numbers are yet to be slated. It remains to be seen whether new age categories or divisions will be introduced to match the tournament's growing footprint.
