At just 14 years, tennis prodigy, Ndidi Osaji, is focused on emulating the success of American tennis icon Serena Williams.
Despite her young age, Osaji has shown a level of maturity, accentuating her dedication to the sport.
Just like her idol, Serena, who was taught tennis by her father at a tender age, Osaji’s journey began at age two, thanks to the encouragement of her father, who took her and her siblings to training sessions where her love for tennis first blossomed.
Her continued development saw Osaji compete at various tournaments, both local and international, proudly representing her fatherland, Nigeria.
“She (Serena) is my favourite tennis player of all time. She inspires me a lot, and we have a similar body type,” Osaji told PUNCH Sports Extra.
She spoke further: “She’s also black, and I guess we just have a lot of similarities. Serena is a role model for many girls, not just tennis players.
“Her influence has transcended the sport, and I look up to her in many ways. That’s something I’m hoping to emulate.”
At eight, Osaji had a taste of the podium, as she won the Meadowhall Primary School Tennis tournament in the girls’ category in 2018.
She quickly followed that up with another dominant display at the Kone’s Cafe tournament and the Lavenda Healthcare tournament, emerging as the champion in the girls’ U10 and under category.
Osaji continued on the path of excellence, stringing up titles like the Nigerian Tennis Federation Championship, the CBN Junior Tennis Championship, NCGB Tennis Junior Tennis Championship, Fusion Sports Foundation, the SAPETRO Futures Junior Tennis Championship, Captain’s Tournament at the Nicon Town Tennis Club and the SNEPCO Junior Tennis Championship.
She also made a mark at the international level, representing Nigeria at the ITF/CAT West and Central African qualifiers in Lome, Togo and was instrumental to her team winning gold in the girls’ doubles U-14 category in 2022.
In 2023, Osaji continued to make waves, winning silver and gold at the Confederation of African Tennis U-14 category tourney in Accra, Ghana.
In six years, Osaji’s had scooped 13 awards, both locally and internationally, for Nigeria.
“My father used to take me and my siblings for training, and that’s where I developed an interest in tennis,” Osaji said.
“My parents were extremely supportive of my career, taking me to tournaments, buying me rackets, and all the equipment that I needed to play well.
“And I’m truly grateful for them. And I believe that without them, I wouldn’t have been able to get to where I am today.”
Like every athlete’s journey to stardom, Osaji’s path was replete with disappointments, pitfalls, and setbacks.
Combining education and tennis was a tough call for the teenager, who often skipped classes just to pursue her dreams.
Currently a Senior Secondary School 1 student, Osaji admitted combining sports and education hasn’t been easy.
“Combining both (tennis and education) has been really tough for me,” Osaji said.
“And I don’t think I’ve truly figured out yet how to handle both properly as I try to squeeze in school work at any chance I get.
“But I’m starting to play after school. So, at least I don’t lack one of them. Both of them are of the highest standard. So, after school, I’ll start to play more. I’ll start to train at my school.”
Her coach, Paul Moses, said Osaji has the ability to make it as a professional player.
“She’s very talented and has been very good from a young age,” Moses said.
“She’s proved she’s the best in her category in Nigeria, and now we’ll see where she’s at against others in Africa and the world.
“We see a lot of talented kids around this age, and there’s a lot of water under the bridge between 14 and 20. She has the tennis ability, but the difference will be how bad she wants it and how hard she’s willing to work.
“It’s a bit too early to call, particularly with girls; she’s won a lot of laurels and matches and is tracking really well, but we’ll see how she goes over the next few years; she can make it, but it’ll be up to her.”
Moses also urged the Nigerian Tennis Federation to provide young athletes with all the tools they need to make it at the professional level, and the rest is up to them.
“We make it very clear to all the players we coach that we’re providing an unbelievable opportunity, great facilities, hours on court, and the ability to travel around the world, but it’s up to them how far they want to take it,” Moses said.
“My philosophy is creating an enabling environment for athletes to develop in, and then they decide how determined they are to make it.”
Osaji’s journey is a testament to her talent, hard work, and determination to leave her mark in the world of tennis.
