The News Agency of Nigeria has reported  that Barely 29 days  at the  IMG Tennis Academy in the  United States, Nigerian tennis prodigy Marylove Edwards opened her first American account, edging past her opponent Nina Sidhu 6-0, 6-1 to win the USTA Celsius Level 6 girls’ 14 & Under tournament.

The final was the climax of a competition where she dominated, winning all her matches convincingly in two sets apiece.

On her way to the final, Marylove defeated Anastasiia Pestereva in the round of  16 in two straight sets of 6-3, 6-2.

She followed up on her remarkable form, beating Nicole Ciemark in a 6-0, 6-1 in the quarterfinals before sealing her place in the final with a 6-2, 6-0 defeat of Stella Rundova.

With support from her Lagos-based pan-African talent agency, Temple Management Company, the 12-year-old has been on a roll.

After a one-week training at the IMG Academy in Florida in April, Marylove returned to Nigeria to shock keen observers of the Nigerian tennis circuit.

NAN reports that she emerged as the first junior to make it to the final of the CBN Women’s Seniors.

 IMG founder Nick Bolletieri said that Marylove, “is a young girl with difference: super athlete. Very handy. Only a few can get away with that style.”

The tennis institution has produced the likes of the Serena and Venus Williams, Andre Agassi and Monica Seles.

 “I have been training very hard since I started at IMG and was so happy to win my first trophy,” said the excited Marylove.

TMC Head of Sports, Koye Sowemimo, in a statement on Tuesday said, “We are focused on our commitment to ensure that Marylove continues to make progress.  such as her latest triumph both on and off the court.”

PUNCH