THE big boys and girls from abroad are lining up in queue for the first tennis Futures to hold this year in Abuja, the Tombin Open Championship and Dayak Open, both of which are sanctioned Futures by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

At a time when other sports are crying over poor funding and lack of tournaments, Nigerian tennis players are having a laugh as their sport is now the beautiful bride as four weeks of competitive international tennis action would take centre stage on the Package B tennis courts of the Abuja National Stadium from April 18.

Gone are the days when players used to complain of lack of tournaments as the coming of the Tombin and Davak Open tournaments would certainly lift their moral as they battle for precious computer ranking points, which are the building blocks of tennis career. But the beauty of of the two tournaments is the international complexion, attracting well over 150 players from across the world.

The  ITF yesterday confirmed the registration of over 85 players for the Tombin Open Tennis Championship, which is in its second year and well over 45 players from different countries around the world for the 1st  Dayak Open, which serves off immediately after the Tombin Open at the Abuja National Stadium. Almost four months after the final of the Lagos Governor’s Cup Futures, these looming tournaments will in no small way redefine the tennis space in the country as players now have very good platforms to earn points, improve their skills and make some quick dollars, which if converted to our local currency will buy great things in the open market.

Tombim Open has been scheduled to start on Monday April 18 and will last for 14 days for the two legs of the Futures tournament while the Dayak Open commences the Monday after the final, running for two weeks as fans get set to be treated to some beautiful tennis displays.

The sponsors of the two events, Tombim Sports Development and Dayak have begun major works at the approved Courts    to make them conform to internationally acceptable standards so that the foreign and local players can play out their games without much complaints.

Coming at a time when the rains are bound to pour, the sponsors have decided to upgrade the facilities and cover the centre court so that the matches could go on unhindered.

They have also provided a sound proof power generating to serve the courts and the offices while  Internet facilities are being upgraded so that the tournaments referees could upload results as soon as matches are concluded

During a recent visit to the venue, reporters also discovered that the training courts and tournament offices were also being refurbished for the demands of the forthcoming tournaments.

Aware of the need to give Nigerian players a head start in the tournaments,  the organisers and the Nigerian Tennis Federation (NTF) have  been consulting on which Nigerian players will benefit from the wild cards slots to play in the first round of the main draw o attract more entries.

Speaking on behalf of Tombin and Dayak, Engineer Dayo Akindoju told reporters yesterday that more players were expected to register online before the first match of the Tombim while others who play the qualifying rounds and the main draws of the first two weeks will confirm their entries before the Dayak Open which serves off a day after the finals of Tombim in Abuja.

Akindoju said the NTF and the organisers have been holding series of meetings to ensure that the courts, hotels, security and other logistics for the tournaments which are listed as scoring events under the ITF calendar meet the highest standards set by the world tennis governing body

Akindoju said “we have been getting all the kind of support we require from NTF particularly with the International Tennis Federation. They have been updating us on the registration and whatever we require from them

“They have also helped us to source for ITF badged referees and umpires.  They have been helpful as the host federation affiliated to the ITF. It is also interesting to note that we now have two Futures Events here in Abuja apart from the Governors Cup which holds in Lagos. During the maiden edition nine Nigerian players   got into the main draws after   the qualifiers”.

He also disclosed that foreign-based players were excited at the prospects of coming to Abuja for the Tombin and Davak Futures.

“Players from all over the world are looking forward to these tournaments. It has been published on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) website. Everybody is applying and registering online. Even the Nigerian players have started registering. Registration is free for the people that are playing Main Draw but those playing the qualifiers are paying $40 per person”.

The maiden edition’s number one seed Ivo Klec, Stanilav Korshunov, Deiton Baughman, American Eric Quigley, India’s Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan,Mafiloe Malaoa from South Africa, Keith –Patrick Crowley top the list of players being expected in Abuja

On the sudden interest being shown by both home based players, Nigerians in Diaspora and foreigners, Akindoju remarked that “Tombim and Dayak  intend getting more people into it, getting more tournaments and doing tournaments the way they are done in Europe and America.  We are doing $25,000 with hospitality. What they do out there is without hospitality. In Egypt,  they have 42 of this type of tournament every year; in Turkey they have 54 every year. The reason why they could sustain it is because they do the cheapest Features which is $10,000. The players come and pay for their accommodation. The money the hotels make from the accommodation is where they generate money to pay for the tournament”