Players on rampage disrupt DavNotch Tennis Championship in Abuja

Posted : 23 June 2026

The sixth DavNotch Open Tennis Championship in Abuja was thrown into disarray after protesting players disrupted the matches over prize money and welfare concerns, forcing a temporary suspension of play at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

The players boycotted their opening-round matches, demanding an upward review of the tournament's prize structure, improved welfare allowances, and an end to deductions from their prize earnings.

The protesters described the N35,000 allocated to first-round losers as inadequate, citing the rising costs of transportation, accommodation, feeding, and tennis equipment.

They also rejected the 10 per cent withholding tax deducted from prize money and criticised the increase in tournament registration fees from N1,000 to N5,000.

According to the players, the champion's prize of N500,000 has remained unchanged since 2017 despite Nigeria's current economic realities.

Reacting to the disruption, the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) apologised to the tournament sponsor, DavNotch Nigeria Limited, describing the players' conduct as unfortunate and against the federation's code of conduct.

NTF Secretary-General, Shammah Makpa, said while players were entitled to seek better conditions, such demands must be pursued through the appropriate channels.

"There is nothing wrong with asking for better conditions, but whatever they request must be within the rules governing the competition," Makpa said.

He explained that the subsidy provided by the federation during tournaments was separate from the prize money and was only meant to cushion players' expenses such as feeding and other tournament-related costs.

Makpa also defended the deduction from players' prize money, insisting it was a standard practice in professional tennis.

"This is a standard practice in tennis. Even on the ATP Tour, a certain percentage is deducted and paid to the organisers or federation. It is not something peculiar to Nigeria," he said.

The federation official, however, condemned the players' decision to refuse to play until their demands were met, describing the action as unacceptable.

"It is one thing to make a request, but it is another to impose conditions and insist that you will not step onto the court unless your demands are granted. We are not going to continue experiencing this kind of rascality," he said.

Makpa disclosed that the federation would review the incident and determine appropriate sanctions for players found to have breached its code of conduct, adding that an official statement would be issued in due course.

He expressed confidence that the incident would not damage the federation's relationship with DavNotch Nigeria Limited, noting that discussions were already underway to strengthen support for grassroots and junior tennis development.

The championship, which features junior, senior, and wheelchair events, began on Sunday with preliminary matches, while the main draw commenced on Monday. The tournament is scheduled to conclude on June 27.

The disruption underscores the ongoing tension between local athletes and sports administrators regarding financial compensation during economic hardships. As the federation deliberates on potential sanctions, the immediate focus remains on resolving the impasse to ensure the tournament resumes smoothly. The final outcomes of these discussions will likely shape player relations and tournament structures for future events.

Players on rampage disrupt DavNotch Tennis Championship in Abuja

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics