Nigerian Tennis Players Will Be Rated Among The Best If......Nigerian Number One Rated Tennis Player

Exposure, Non-participation in International Tennis Competition Affected Our Ratings... Thomas Etu By Niyi Busari Nigeria number one ranked tennis player, Thomas Etu has blamed the low ranking of Nigerian tennis players on the lack of sponsors who can financially support them to participate in the international tennis tournaments around world. Participating in those tournament will expose Nigerian tennis player which in turn leads to ratings in the International Tennis Federation. He explined Speaking with www.bsnsports.com.ng, the 23 year old said: "The major reason we cannot play in the final of anh kind of international tennis competition is simply because we are not involved in many competitions outside Nigeria. Tennis players are rated by points garnered in international competitions which we don't participate in. If i can get a sponsor and participate in different international competitions, i will be more experienced, better and expectedly, rated higher in the world ranking." The Cross River born athlete, however, applauds the efforts of the Nigerian Tennis Federation for organising many competitions this year which according to him will improve their games. He also, urged them to do more by sponsoring the first five highly rated Nigerian tennis players to an international games. "We appreciate the Federation for bringing different competitions to us this year than what we used to have. I want to appeal to the Federation to look for sponsors for us. If they can secure sponsors for the best five tennis players in Nigeria and we are able to participate in international competitions, it will go a long way in improving our games."