Tennis: Da-Silva championship offers N30m prize money, features historic wheelchair events
Tennis
Destiny Da-Silva, the founder of Destiny Ford Da-silver, says the Destiny Ford Da-Silva Tennis Open Championship 2026, will offer N30 million in cash prizes and feature nine categories, including historic wheelchair tennis events.
Da-Silva, who is the tournament director and visionary of the Destiny Ford Da-Silva Foundation, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the qualifying rounds on Saturday at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
He said the championship was inspired by his desire to give back to society through tennis, the sport that established his name in Nigeria.
Da-Silva explained that he had always wanted to use his achievements and blessings to support the sport and create opportunities for others.
“It is a give-back initiative I have always dreamed of. I want to give back to the society that made me.
“The Destiny Ford Da-Silva name is known in this country through tennis, and I believe the best way to give back is through a tennis foundation,” he said.
On his expectations, Da-Silva said he was optimistic that the championship would attract the best tennis players in the country.
He described the competition as an iconic event, noting that Lagos had not hosted a tournament of such scale in more than 10 to 15 years.
He said the championship would provide an opportunity for players from different parts of the country, particularly those who had not competed in Lagos for years, to return to the city.
According to him, Lagos remains the centre of tennis in Nigeria, making it an important location for a championship of this nature.
Da-Silva expressed surprise at the large number of entries received, adding that the foundation hoped to make the competition an annual event.
He explained that the foundation’s first edition focused on humanitarian activities, including support for vulnerable people, the less privileged and widows.
He said the second edition was dedicated entirely to tennis to bring the tennis community together.
Da-Silva said the championship would feature able-bodied players, wheelchair tennis players and veterans from across the country.
He described the wheelchair tennis events as a major highlight, noting that men and women would compete in 32-player singles draws for the first time in the history of wheelchair tennis in Nigeria.
He added that wheelchair doubles would also be introduced for the first time in the country, saying players in the category had never had the opportunity to compete in a doubles tournament in Nigeria.
The nine categories are men’s singles and doubles, women’s singles and doubles, wheelchair men’s and women’s singles and doubles, as well as veterans’ singles.
Da-Silva said the veterans’ category had attracted entries from players aged 55 and above, including members of the Women’s Widow’s Club in Nigeria.
He explained that the veterans’ event was not mainly about prize money but was designed to bring older players together to interact, relax and enjoy the competition.
On the prize money, Da-Silva said the men’s and women’s singles champions would each receive N1.5 million.
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He said the winners of the wheelchair men’s and women’s singles events would each receive N500,000.
The men’s and women’s doubles champions would also receive N500,000 each, while the veterans’ singles winner would get N300,000.
He put the total cash prize at N30 million, excluding allowances, subsidies and other logistical expenses incurred in organising the championship.
NAN reports that the qualifying rounds began on Saturday, while the main draw will hold from Nov. 16 to Nov. 21 at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. (NAN)
