The 2026 DavNotch Limited National Tennis Championship resumed on Tuesday evening at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, following the resolution of a dispute that forced a one-day suspension of the tournament over player welfare and prize money concerns.
Competition was halted on Monday after players staged a protest and refused to take to the courts, demanding an urgent review of the championship’s prize structure, welfare allowances and deductions from players’ earnings.
Following a series of meetings involving player representatives, officials of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) and tournament sponsors, an agreement was reached that allowed the competition to continue.
One of the immediate outcomes of the negotiations was an increase in the participation subsidy from ₦15,000 to ₦20,000, a move welcomed by players as a modest but significant step towards addressing the financial burden of competing on the national tennis circuit.
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The sponsor, DavNotch Nigeria Limited, also assured players that concerns regarding welfare packages and other issues raised during the protest would be thoroughly reviewed ahead of the next edition of the championship.
The commitment helped ease tensions and paved the way for the resumption of matches after the tournament’s opening day was brought to a standstill.
The protest highlighted long-standing frustrations among players over what they described as stagnant prize money despite rising inflation and increasing costs associated with travel, accommodation, feeding and equipment.
Many players argued that the ₦35,000 paid to first-round losers no longer reflected the realities of competing in national tournaments, while others questioned why the winner’s prize of ₦500,000 has remained unchanged since 2017.
Athletes also expressed dissatisfaction over the increase in registration fees from ₦1,000 to ₦5,000 and the deduction of withholding tax from prize money, insisting that such measures further reduced already limited earnings.
The dispute drew a response from the Nigeria Tennis Federation, which apologised to DavNotch Nigeria Limited for the disruption while urging players to pursue grievances through established channels.
NTF Secretary-General Shama Ali Makpa previously acknowledged the players’ concerns but criticised the boycott of matches, describing it as inconsistent with the federation’s rules and code of conduct.
“Players are free to request a review. There is nothing wrong with asking for better conditions, but whatever they request must be within the rules governing the competition,” Makpa said.
He explained that the welfare subsidy provided during tournaments is intended to cushion some of the challenges faced by athletes and is separate from the official prize-money structure.
Makpa also defended deductions made from prize money, noting that similar practices exist across professional tennis globally.
Despite the controversy, both the federation and tournament organisers expressed confidence that the incident would not affect the strong partnership between the NTF and DavNotch Nigeria Limited, which has supported the championship for six consecutive years.
With the impasse resolved and matches back underway, attention has shifted once again to competition on the courts.
However, the issues raised by players have reignited broader conversations about athlete welfare in Nigerian tennis and the need for periodic reviews of prize money and support packages to reflect prevailing economic realities.
Stakeholders hope the agreement reached in Abuja will mark the beginning of more constructive engagement between players, organisers and sponsors as efforts continue to strengthen the development of tennis in Nigeria.
