At 16, Blessing Otu is on her path to playing tennis at the top tier level as the former national junior player now rubs shoulders with the best in Nigeria. The youngest of the Otu family, aims at higher heights as she follows the rich tradition of her tennis-loving family, OLALEKAN OKUSAN writes
Despite falling to a more experienced opponent on court at a recent tournament, it was clear that Blessing Otu has the quality to be up there with the best in tennis.
Her strokes, movement, use of space on court, among other requisite technical skills in the game, point to what the talented youngster has in stock.
A major motivation for Otu is to better the feats achieved by her brothers – Thomas and John – in tennis, especially winning laurels playing in the Women Tennis Association (WTA) circuit in the near future.
“My mum used to play tennis but didn’t play up to the national level,” the youngster went deep on her family’s tennis tradition.” “She has been very supportive of my tennis dream, just like my father, grandpa, uncle and brothers.
“No matter how many matches I lose, they are always coming around and encouraging me because they want me to be a better player. This has been motivating me and I look forward to the day I will make them proud at the top level of tennis.
“Despite my mother’s involvement with tennis, my grandpa didn’t focus on the girls compared to the boys when they were growing up. So she played tennis at some point but left it to venture into business.
“But what she could not do on court, she wants me to do and that is why she has been very supportive in my career, to ensure that my dream of playing in the WTA tournaments and others become a reality,” Otu disclosed.
She added: “Tennis runs in my family. I was not even born when my brothers started the game. My elder brother, Thomas, is a great player. John, the younger one, is working hard to put his best foot forward.
“For Thomas it is hard for him right now because he is in the top rank, and trying to work himself to the zenith. I think he is doing great and I wish him all the best.
“All my family members play tennis so I think it is in the blood. My grandpa had always wanted everyone to play tennis and he wants the sport to keep going and growing in the family.”
Tennis great Serena Williams is Otu’s role model as well as national champion Marylove Edwards, whom she described as a great player.
“In Nigeria, we have great players who can compete at the top level but my role is Serena Williams while Marylove Edwards is another player I look up to because of her skills on court,” she said.
Otu admitted that for players like her the challenges were enormous to hone their tennis skills in the country. Therefore, the youngster dreams of securing a scholarship to a college abroad to pursue her ambition of playing on the global stage.
Her words: “It is very challenging for us in Nigeria because sometimes you train for months without playing in a competition, and this is very frustrating for players like me who dream to play at the top level in the world. I hone my skills by training twice a day and it is challenging. But I have made up my mind to play tennis and I will continue to follow my dream. I know it will come to pass soon.”
Otu who has made it to several national finals, believes her inability to win titles thus far is largely due to inexperience, and hopes that she is primed for a national triumph soon.
The young, hardworking tennis talent waxed philosophically: “There are several good players in Nigeria and I play against them in these finals. I am not discouraged that I am yet to win any title. I know my time is getting closer. I’ve not won any national title but I will keep trying. I know my time will come soon.
“I enjoy playing against older and experienced players because of the experience I gain. It is hard to win against them but you keep playing, you keep going at them. I am not going to be deterred from playing against them. I will keep working hard so that I can beat them one day,” she said.
On her immediate plan for the future, Otu disclosed: “I have finished with secondary school and I’m planning to go to college. I have thought it through. I’m playing in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) circuit now but playing in Nigeria might not be ideal, especially if I have to play tennis and go to school because it is difficult to combine sports with school in Nigeria.
“So, for now I will play the ITF events and look forward to getting a scholarship to an American college where I can play tennis alongside my academics. For now, I am not interested in any Nigerian higher institutions because they hardly pay attention to sport. It is better I look elsewhere where my talents can be married with my studies.
“In five years’ time, I see myself playing the WTA Grand Slam, making my family proud because they’ve done so much for me and I want to reward them by winning a grand slam.
“Tennis has given me popularity, new friends and travelling around the world. It makes me explore more to see different players in action, to meet different people, to challenge myself and to make good preferences in life. I know I will get there one day. I will keep going till I get there. It is just one breakthrough; any big tournament you win takes you to the top,” Otu stressed.