Da-Silva Open Breaks New Ground with Wheelchair Tennis, N30m Prize Pool

Posted : 15 November 2026

The 2026 Destiny Ford Da-Silva Tennis Open Championship will make history in Nigerian tennis with the introduction of wheelchair doubles and expanded singles competitions for male and female wheelchair players.

The championship, which offers a total cash prize of N30 million, will feature nine categories, bringing together able-bodied players, wheelchair athletes and veterans.

Destiny Da-Silva, founder of the Destiny Ford Da-Silva Foundation and tournament director, disclosed this on Saturday during the qualifying rounds at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

He said the introduction of wheelchair events reflected the foundation’s commitment to inclusiveness and creating opportunities for players across different categories.

According to him, both male and female wheelchair players will compete in 32-player singles draws, while wheelchair doubles will also debut in Nigeria.

He noted that wheelchair players had previously lacked opportunities to compete in doubles events locally, making the championship a significant development for the sport.

The nine categories are men’s singles and doubles, women’s singles and doubles, wheelchair men’s and women’s singles and doubles, and veterans’ singles.

Da-Silva said the championship was also designed to reconnect the Nigerian tennis community, particularly players who had not competed in Lagos for several years.

He described the event as an iconic competition, noting that the state had not hosted a tournament of comparable scale in more than 10 to 15 years.

“Lagos remains the centre of tennis in Nigeria, and I believe this is the right place to host a championship of this nature,” he said.

Da-Silva expressed satisfaction with the response to the competition, saying the number of entries exceeded expectations.

He added that the foundation intended to make the championship an annual event to sustain its contribution to tennis development.

Explaining the motivation behind the initiative, he said it was conceived as an opportunity to give back to society through the sport that established his name in Nigeria.

“It is a give-back initiative I have always dreamed of. I want to give back to the society that made me.

“The Destiny Ford Da-Silva name is known in this country through tennis, and I believe the best way to give back is through a tennis foundation,” he said.

He explained that the foundation’s inaugural edition focused on humanitarian interventions, including assistance to vulnerable people, widows and the less privileged.

The second edition, he said, was dedicated to tennis development and bringing different segments of the tennis community together.

On the veterans’ category, Da-Silva said it had attracted players aged 55 and above, including members of the Women’s Widow’s Club in Nigeria.

He explained that the category was primarily intended to promote social interaction, recreation and continued participation in the sport rather than financial rewards.

The organisers have earmarked N1.5 million each for the men's and women's singles champions.

Wheelchair men's and women's singles winners will each receive N500,000, while the men's and women's doubles champions will also collect N500,000 apiece.

The veterans' singles champion will receive N300,000.

Da-Silva said the N30 million prize pool excluded allowances, subsidies and other logistical expenses associated with organising the competition.

The qualifying rounds commenced on Saturday, with the main draw scheduled for Nov. 16 to Nov. 21 at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

The championship marks a significant step towards making Nigerian tennis more inclusive while creating competitive opportunities for wheelchair athletes, veterans and able-bodied players. Through its expanded categories and substantial prize pool, the Destiny Ford Da-Silva Foundation also aims to strengthen grassroots development and bring the tennis community together.

Da-Silva Open Breaks New Ground with Wheelchair Tennis, N30m Prize Pool

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