Not ready to be carried away by her recent exploits within the Sub-Sahara Africa tennis playing circuit, teenage sensation, Oyinlomo Quadre has admitted that Australian Open men’s champion, Roger Federer remains her inspiration even as she competes against the continent’s best at the forthcoming 40th ITF/CAT African Junior Closed Championships in Tunisia.
The tennis prodigy told NationSport yesterday that he admires the Swiss for his calmness as well as his simple style of play.
“Roger Federer is a player I really admire because of his calmness, fighting spirit as well as his personality on and off the court. He is every player’s delight. He makes tennis look simple unlike others who play with a lot of strength,” she said.
Quadre who was pained by the demise of her mentor, late Chris Enahoro, whom he described as one of her pillars in the sport.
She, however, admitted that she had not reached her full potential in the sport as she still has a lot in the offing. “I don’t think I have done enough in the sport because I am yet to fulfill my target as an athlete. All the accolades are just to motivate me to aim for more. I will continue to work hard and hoping that my efforts will be rewarded with successes on court. I must also not forget the support I have been getting from my family as well as members of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Sterling Bank and the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF),” she added.
The teenager is expected to be part of the three-man Nigerian contingent to next week’s 40th ITF/CAT African Junior Closed Championships holding at the Centre National de Tennis Cité Nle Sportive d’El Menzah in Tunis from February 6 to 11.