Sultan Agunbiade is the only Nigerian player left in the Men’s Singles of the 2026 WTT Contender Lagos, after defeating compatriot Matthew Fabunmi in the first round at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos State.
Agunbiade continued his impressive run with a commanding performance against Fabunmi. On his way to the main draw, the youngster overcame wildcard Afeez Yunus 3-1, displaying precision and composure that made him a crowd favourite.
His victories are expected to earn him valuable ranking points as he moves to the round of 16 where he faces India’s Manush Shah.
Other Nigerian hopefuls, including Olajide Omotayo, Taiwo Mati, Muiz Adegoke, and Azeez Solanke have however, exited the tournament after defeats to more experienced opponents from Europe and Asia.
Meanwhile, defending champion Anders Lind of Denmark survived a tough opening match, rallying from two sets down to edge Romanian Lulian Chirita 3-2.
Lind, who is aiming to become the first player to retain the Lagos title, admitted the journey to the podium must be taken cautiously.
“The first match in any tournament is always the most difficult. I didn’t feel the game in the first two sets, but I fought back to win,” said Lind.
“Every match is hard, but step-by-step I will approach each game because the deeper you go, the tougher it gets.”
Lind also praised the Lagos fans for their unwavering support.
“The fans here are very important because of their enormous support in every match. They don’t just cheer for local players; they support everyone, celebrating every good shot or point. That energy is very motivating for us,” he concluded.
