Ekiti Star Adeleye Daniel Defeat Ajang To Begin Cbn Tennis Title Hunt
In high-stakes tournaments, reputations don’t win matches — performances do. On Tuesday, Ekiti-born Daniel Adeleye had to dig deep to defend both, edging past Ajang Sylvanus in a gripping three-set opener at the CBN National Tennis Championship in Abuja.
Adeleye, Nigeria’s top-ranked male player, overcame Sylvanus 6–3, 3–6, 6–3 to advance to the second round at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium. The win was anyone’s guess until the final set.
Sylvanus, ranked 48th in the Nigerian Tennis Federation’s national standings with seven ranking points as of March 14, 2025, came into the match off a dominant first-round performance, having beaten Nuhu Orenyang 4–0, 4–2. His aggressive baseline play and confidence made him a formidable opponent early on .
After dropping the second set, Adeleye regrouped and reasserted his dominance in the decider—breaking early, reducing unforced errors, and dictating the tempo with well-timed forehands and composed service games.
The victory builds on what has been a breakout year for Adeleye. Earlier in July, he claimed the men’s singles title at the VEMP National Open, defeating Lucky Danjuma 7–6(8), 6–2 in the final, after battling past Canice Abua (then Nigeria’s No. 1) in a dramatic semifinal comeback (2–6, 7–5, 6–1).
That VEMP win earned Adeleye the No. 1 national ranking on July 17 and firmly established his position at the top of Nigerian men’s tennis.
Internationally, Adeleye reached a career-high ITF World Junior Ranking of No. 262, and secured junior titles at the J60 events in Accra and Abuja.
He also bolstered Ekiti State’s sports reputation at the Gateway National Sports Festival in May, securing bronze medals in men’s singles and mixed doubles.
As the CBN Tennis Championship continues through the week, Adeleye’s next challenge will test whether he can turn gritty beginnings into tournament-winning momentum.
Can he sustain this form and capture his second national title of the year — or will the quest demand even more from Nigeria’s rising star?
Follow Sportive for exclusive updates on Adeleye’s run in Abuja.
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