The prestigious Ikoyi Club 1938 will from today host the annual Zenith Bank Tennis Grand Slam tournament.
Over 90 tennis players are expected to feature in the competition which is in its 9th edition.
The categories to be competed for are Men singles drawn into Group A and Group B, Women singles, Veterans singles and the Men and Women Team events.
Defending Champion Rume Dubre is expected to file out is Men’s group A just as Azubuike Okonkwo, the Club’s captain, will lead hostilities in Group B. Some of the other players to feature in the men singles are Destiny Da Silva, Olanrenwaju Odiahi, Farinu Ayotunde, Emelie Okika, former football international, Jonathan Akpoborie and former section Chairman, Akeem Mustafa.
For the Ladies singles, Nora Azubuike, Maryann Chukwueke, and Lady Captain, Oluwawemimo Ogunsanya are some of those expected to compete for honours while Godwin Kienka and Edet Akpaso will feature in the Veterans Singles.
The Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank, Ebenezer Onyeagwu, noted that the outfit was proud to be in partnership with Ikoyi Club for this competition.
Tennis section chairman, Diran Famakinwa, assured that all was set for the competition which is the club’s prime tennis event every year.
“This is one event we all look forward to every year and we are happy it’s here again. It has been nine years of good partnership with Zenith Bank and we are hopeful this competition will get better every year,” Famakinwa said.
Lady Captain, Ogunsanya added that all the technical preparation had been done to ensure a hitch-free tournament.
The event which starts today will see smashers battle for honours at the tennis courts of the Ikoyi Club 1938 till May 25.