Table of Contents
- Mofifunoluwa Atilola is an 11-year-old Nigerian tennis prodigy
- She is the next ‘Serena Williams’ given her focus, consistency and love for tennis
- Her coach is former Nigerian ATP star Sunday Igbinovia
At only 11 years old, Mofifunoluwa Atilola is a tennis prodigy winning the world’s love. She is a popular figure at Onikan’s Lagos Lawn Tennis Club.
Her parents are proud that their daughter dominated the U-10 category and are looking forward to more success.
Young Atilola bagged 23 tennis wins in three years; 2021 – 2024. Tennis is her first love and her future plans revolve around the sport.
How Did Mofifunoluwa Atilola Start Playing Tennis?
Her father Shina influenced Atilola to play tennis when she was only nine years old. The bubbly Nigerian girl would always tag along with her father to his practice sessions in Onika.
Shina doesn’t competitive tennis. He plays for recreational purposes together with other Lagos Lawn Tennis Club members. However, his daughter Mofifunoluwa Atilola is into competitive sports.
Nigerian tennis star Mofifunoluwa Atilola. Photo/Nigeria Tennis Live
He recalls that Atilola copied everything he did on the court which was interesting for him.
“She did everything I did and it was surprising for me. She was nine years old at the time. I told myself ‘ah, my small girl wants to be a tennis player.’ I never forget because her love for tennis is out of my influence – positive influence as a parent. I look back with joy in my heart,” he opines.
What impressed him so much was her relentlessness in exercising the same way he did.
“Despite her age, she exercised as well as I was which is moving for me. Her determination to play tennis knew no bounds and it’s still the case,” he recalls.
She started practising there on and got into Nigeria’s U-10 where she fiercely unleashed her swings, serves and returns. Mofifunoluwa Atilola has played all tennis tournaments in Nigeria since she was 10.
Has Atilola Won any Tournaments?
Surprisingly, she has played in all of the tournament finals and won over 23 titles. The Guardian reports that she was impressed with her performance at the annual FE&P Invitational Masters at Ikoyi Club in Lagos.
She is currently playing in the U-14 with a sterling performance at the 2024 CBN Junior Open. She won the tournament. Further, she debuted in Sapetro Futures Tennis Championships where she also performed well.
Atilola whose favourite sneakers are pink has multiple wins in U-9, U-12 and U-14.
Mofifunoluwa Atilola Coach
Sunday Igbinovia a former ATP player coaches Mofifunoluwa Atilola at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club. She trains daily after school.
Igbinovia while speaking about her progress said that he is amazed by her love for tennis at just 11 years. He described her as a self-motivated player who is after victory on the court and nothing else.
Nigerian tennis prodigy Mofifunoluwa Atilola, 11. Photo/Nigeria Tennis Live
Her dedication, discipline and consistency are three aspects that make it hard to beat her in any match.
“She will show up daily whether there’s school or not. When you see such a dedicated player, it’s very difficult to beat them because their focus and game is already intimidating to the opponent,” the coach said.
Atilola is human, after all. She admits that there are days of training drain her but her love for tennis keeps her going.
“It’s tiring. Training isn’t easy but since I love playing tennis, I push on and learn,” the young tennis star responds. She holds Igbinovia in high regard saying he shapes how she plays.
Despite her massive wins, she regrets losing Adewale Isa tournament. It’s one of the tournaments she hopes to capture in 2025.
To do that, she is working with her coach to improve her game and perfect her moves that may have led her to lose the tournament in 2024.
