Davis Cup returns to Lagos after 19 years as Nigeria hosts Uzbekistan
World-class tennis returned to Lagos at the weekend as Nigeria hosted the Davis Cup World Group II Play-offs against Uzbekistan at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, nearly 19 years after the competition was last staged in the city.
The high-profile tie was described by many as a special moment in Nigerian sports, bringing the prestigious Davis Cup—often described as the “World Cup of Tennis”—back to the country’s commercial capital after almost two decades.
Nigeria made a strong start to the encounter, with the nation’s number-one player, Daniel Adeleye, securing a victory over Uzbekistan’s Abdulaziz Usmonjonov in one of the opening matches.
Speaking with journalists at the venue, Fatodu described the return of the Davis Cup to Lagos as a major milestone for both the state and Nigerian tennis.
“The Davis Cup returning to Lagos after 19 years marks a watershed moment not just for Nigerian tennis, but for Lagos State’s vision of becoming Africa’s sports and entertainment capital,” he said.
He added that the event went beyond the immediate competition, noting that it represented a broader effort to revive the city’s tennis culture.
Fatodu further disclosed that the Lagos State Sports Commission is working with relevant stakeholders to relaunch the Lagos Open Tennis Tournament, a once-prominent international event that has been inactive in recent years.
The event attracted several top sports administrators and government officials. Among those in attendance on the opening day were the Director General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu; the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade; the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports, Adeyinka Anthony Adeboye; the President of the Nigerian Tennis Federation, Victor Ochei; and the President of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Adeyinka Adewusi.
