Bulus claims first national title at Rainoil Tennis Open

US-based Nigerian tennis prodigy Christopher Bulus has won his first senior national title after defeating Daniel Adeleye in the Men’s Singles Final at the 2025 Rainoil National Tennis Open event in Lagos.

Bulus, who flew into the country from South Africa where he represented Nigeria at the Davis Cup event, was a clear favourite to win the competition despite not having a national ranking.

Despite winning in two straight sets against fellow Davis Cup compatriot, Bulus was made to fight for every point he got before claiming 6-0, 6-4 wins.

Alongside a giant winner’s trophy, the Kaduna-born tennis youngster also went home with the N2,000,000 prize money for the men’s singles winner.

In the women’s singles event, Nigeria’s number one female tennis player, Khadijat Mohammed, fought back against longtime rival, Bright Emmanuel, to win her second consecutive senior national title and third overall.

The Abuja-based youngster was down in the first set after trailing 6-7 in the first set. However, she rallied in the second and final sets winning 6-4 and 6-3 to deny her opponent a first senior national title.

Mohammed, who has been on the ascendancy in the seniors for two years consecutively, has consolidated on her rating as one of Nigeria’s most impressive tennis youngsters.

She was rewarded with N1.5m as well as a giant winner’s trophy for her efforts and was well commended by the organizers.

Dr. Gabriel Ogbeche, the Group Managing Director of Rainoil Group while addressing audience after the finale inside the tennis section of Ikoyi Club 1938, was full of excitement as he noted that the return of the tournament is a great delight to the organization.

“We are already looking forward to the 2026 edition which we believe will be a lot bigger and better than this year’s event,” he said during an interview after the tournament.