Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov became the first man for 19 years to win the ATP World Tour Finals on his debut appearance with victory over Belgian David Goffin.
Sixth seed Dimitrov, 26, claimed the biggest title of his career last Sunday as he won 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 at London's O2 Arena.
The Bulgarian collected £1.9m in prize money for coming through the tournament unbeaten in five matches across the group stage, semi-finals and final.
He will end the year ranked third in the world, with Goffin up to seventh.
Dimitrov had beaten both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer on his route to the final, but couldn’t cope with an inspired opponent, as he collapsed on the baseline after his victory, appearing close to tears before hauling himself up to collect the trophy.
"I'm still trying to think about what I just did," said Dimitrov, who follows in the footsteps of Spain's Alex Corretja, who won the season-ending title on his debut in 1998.
"This is a great, unbelievable achievement for me, but I still have a lot to give.
"One of my main goals is to win a Grand Slam tournament. This has always been a dream of mine. Now, slowly, I think [I'm] getting there."
Injuries to Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic kept two of the sport's biggest names out of the ATP Finals, while world number one Rafael Nadal was forced to pull out injured after his opening round-robin match and Roger Federer was stunned in the semi-finals by Goffin.
But Dimitrov said it was too soon to say a new era was coming to tennis.
"Next year I think is going to be obviously pretty interesting, especially the beginning of it," he said. "There's still quite a few names that are going to come back and play. You should never count them out."
He added: "Am I one of those guys? Well, right now I'm right here. I'm the winner of the tournament. But that's about it.
"The important thing is just to stay on the ground and put your head down, even work harder because once you get to that point, everything becomes so narrow for you.
"I don't want to get too hyped up because I've done well, now I'm number three in the world. This makes me even more locked in, more excited about my work, and for what's to come."
While Dimitrov's season is now over, Goffin will try to help Belgium to a first ever Davis Cup victory against France this week.
"It was a special week for me," said the Belgian. "A week with a lot of emotion and a lot of fatigue. Now I am feeling tired but it was an amazing week."
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis
http://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis
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Captions:
*Dimitrov celebrates winning match point against David Goffin during the epic ATP World Tour Finals in London.
*ECSTASY: Dimitrov down in celebration.
Chelsea forward Victor Moses was on Friday night named Nigeria's Footballer of the Year (Men) at the sixth edition of the 2017 Nigerian Sports Award held at the Banquet Hall, Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.
Also at the award night being organised annually by Unmissable Incentives Limited, Super Falcons and Dalian Quanjian FC of China striker, Asisat Oshoala was named Footballer of the Year (Women).
Reigning African and Commonwealth Games champion, Odunayo Adekuroye, clinched a double at the ceremony as she went home with Wrestler of the Year and the Sportswoman of the Year awards.
World silver medallist, Adekuoroye beat Blessing Oborududu and Gofit Winnie to the Wrestler's award, while she also beat Asisat Oshoala and member of the 2017 AfroBasket D'Tigress winning squad, Evelyn Akhator to the Sports Woman of the Year award. Akhator however, went home with the Ball Sports Person of the Year award.
The Punjab Royals of India freestyle wrestler, Adekuoroye, after receiving her award was moved to tears as she sang in Yoruba to praise God for her modest achievements.
African table tennis star, Aruna Quadri clinched home the Sportsman of the Year award on the night {Friday} he moved to the quarter-final of the just-ended 2017 ITTF Swedish Open.
Quadri beat D’Tigers captain, Ike Diogu and Chelsea star, Victor Moses to the award.
Full list of winners:
Sportsman of the year: Aruna Quadri.
Sportswoman of the year: Odunayo Adekuroye.
Sports Governor of the year: Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos) and Emmanuel Udom (Akwa Ibom).
Lifetime Achievement Award: Mr Fabio Lanipekun, legendary Nigerian sports journalist.
Special Recognition Award: NFF President, Amaju Pinnick.
Discovery of the year: Georgia Oboh (Golf).
Sports Administrator: Daniel Igali {Wrestling} and Wahid Enitan Oshodi {Table tennis}.
Coach of the year: Akuh Purity.
Team of the year: National Women’s Basketball Team (D'Tigress)
Footballer of the year (Women): Asisat Oshoala.
Footballer of the year (Men): Victor Moses.
Journalist of the year (TV): Promise Efoghe.
Journalist of the year (Radio): Tony Bekederemo.
Photo Journalist of the year: Olusegun Aderinto.
Journalist of the year (Print): Lekan Okusan.
Ball Sports Person of the Year: Evelyn Akhator.
Wrestler of the year: Odunayo Adekuroye.
Special Sports Person of the year: Hannah Babalola.
Caption: Asisat Oshoala (left) receiving the NSA 2017 award in Lagos, from veteran sports journalist, Mr Fabio Lanipekun, while ex-international, Mutiu Adepoju looks on.
Nigeria's number one, Yemisi Olatunji and Olufunmilayo Gabriel last Saturday in Ilorin, won the female and male titles of the maiden AGF Abdul-Razaq North Central Invitational Open Squash Classic.
Olatunji of Lagos State defeated her sister, Busayo Olatunji three straight sets, 11-5, 13-11 and 11-6 to cart home the star prize of N50,000.
In the male category, Gabriel of Kwara State saw off the challenge of Lagos player, Onaopemipo Adegoke 3-1 sets, 11-4, 7-11, 11-7 and 11-7 to win the competition which also featured Nigeria's number one Sodiq Taiwo of NSCDC and number two, Lanre Abdulrahman of Lagos State. Gabriel following his heroics clinched home the star prize of N75,000.
The Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development in Kwara State, Mr Kale Ayo, who represented Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, while speaking on the occasion, said that government will not leave any stone unturned to engage the youth in the state meaningfully.
Ahmed, called on the corporate individuals and organisations to support the efforts of the government in promoting youth development.
He commended the sponsor of the championship, just as he charged him to do more by constructing a squash court, to complement the existing facilities.
Also, Yinka Duro, who represented the President of the Nigeria Squash Federation (NSF), Boye Oyerinde, commended the sponsor as he clamoured for more private sector participation in youth and sports development.
The North Central representative on the NSF board, Honourable Nyam Pa Darreng, commended the sponsor of the competition, adding that the board would encourage more private sector support for the sport.
The sponsor of the classic, Dr Alimi Abdul-Razaq, who expressed delight at the standard of the competition said that his family would continue to support the development of sports.
He stated that his family would be willing to exploit the public private partnership arrangement on the construction of additional squash courts at the Kwara State Stadium Complex.
Dr Abdul-Razaq also said that the gesture would extend to other sports, adding that sports is a tool for the elimination of social vices in the society.
Earlier in his address, Chairman of Kwara State Squash Association, Professor Yinka Buhari, thanked the government and the sponsor, for giving youngsters the opportunity to showcase their talents, and the association the opportunity to upgrade the facilities and bringing first-class squash and entertainment to the state. While congratulating AGF Abdul-Razaq on his 90th birthday, he called for the sustenance of the sponsorship of the championship.
No fewer than 38 players from six states, host Kwara, Plateau, Oyo, Ogun, Delta and Lagos states competed in the competition, including the Classic Plate that was sponsored by Professor Tayo Talabi of the University of Ilorin.
First winner to the 16th placed players in both the male and female categories won cash prizes in the classic.
The joint third placed players got N35,000 each, as fifth to eight placed players got N20,000 each, while those ranked ninth to 16th were rewarded with N10,000 each.
The AGF Abdul-Razaq North Central Invitational Squash Open Classic was staged as part of the 90th birthday celebration of Alhaji AGF Abdul-Razaq (SAN), the first lawyer from Northern Nigeria and former Minister of State Transport.
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Caption: Yemisi Olatunji also won the AGF championship in Ilorin.
THE Ashdam Solar 10th anniversary tennis tournament kicked off on Tuesday on the clay court of the Ibadan Tennis Club (ITC).
No fewer than 34 players registered for the intra-club tournament sponsored by a member of ITC, Mr Yemi Asaleye.
In some of the matches decided, Alhaji T. Busari defeated Mr A. Atoyebi in a pro-set singles 8-3 while Matthew Okoye came back from 0-4 to beat Ayo Adumati 8-4. Alhaji Baderin defeated Y. Oshilaja 8-1 as Mr Femi Oyewole, Captain of Tennis Section, ITC , advanced to the next stage having walked over erstwhile President of ITC, Chief Wale Jolaoso.
D. Gambo beat Alhassan 8-3, as Yekini Kasali triumphed over Femi Oyewole 8-3 while A. Olaniyan outplayed W. Akinyooye 8-4 .
J. Okoromadu beat Egnr. Funmi Oyetosho 8-3, as P. Faboyinde hammered O. Oyewole 8-1 as A. Olosun walked over L. Iranloye to move to the next round as well as Romiluyi.
Also taking part in the clay court tournament are messrs coach Yekini Kasali, Innocent Agwuncha, Matthew Okoye, A. Orebiyi, A. Olaniyan, J. Okoromadu, A. Olosun, M. Adedire, S. Oyewole, A. Baderin, S. Romiluyi, F. Oyewole, D. Gambo, L. Iranloye, F. Oyetoso, Y. Oshilaja, L. Hassan, S. Ogun, W. Owosho, P. Faboyinde and B. Adebiyi.
Others are S. Ijidale, I. Adumati, W. Jolaoso, W. Akinyooye, S. Ogunsola, MM Balogun, J. Taiwo, F. Ibe, S. Lawal, F. Ojurongbe and F Abiri.
According to Asaleye, the tournament is to further strengthen unity among members of the club and also create a healthy rivalry among members.
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Caption: Busari (left) and his opponent, Atoyebi before their game.
Deniz Khazaniuk of Israel on Saturday claimed the first leg of the women’s singles title of the 2017 Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship.
At the final decided at the centre court of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, the Israeli defeated two-time champion, Conny Perrin 4-6, 6-1, 6-3.
Conny took the savvy first set in which she and her opponent both held on to their first three serves apiece, while Khazaniuk came back stronger in the second set to take a 3-0 lead and finish the set 6-1.
Swiss star, Perrin did not fare better in the final set as Khazaniuk raced to a 4-0 lead before she (Perrin) rallied to win two straight games.
Khazaniuk woke up from slumber to extend the lead to 5-2 while Perrin too put up resistance to reduce the tally, before the Israeli ended the show by taking the final score to 6-3.
The second leg of the competition serves off on Monday, October 16 and will be rounded off on Saturday, October 21 at the same venue.
No Nigerian player made it to the quarter-final in the men's singles as Christian Paul emerged the only home-player who played in the second round................
Caption: Khazaniuk in action.
Kwara State Director of Sports, Mallam Tunde Kazeem has appealed to well-meaning individuals and corporate organisations to complement the efforts of government in the development of sports in Nigeria at large.
He made the appeal while speaking during a reception in honour of the athletes who represented Kwara state in squash at the just-ended 2017 National Youth Games in Ilorin.
Team Kwara won three gold and three silver medals in the boys and girls singles as well as the girls team events, to emerge the overall winner of the squash event at the 2017 NYG.
The reception for the athletes and others who represented the state at the NYG was organised by the Kwara State Squash Association, to appreciate the youngsters for making the state proud.
Kazeem, who is also the Chairman of Directors’ of Sports Forum in Nigeria, said that government alone cannot shoulder all the responsibilities in sports development, and that the atmosphere in the state is good enough encouragement for the private sector to exploit to assist.
The former national badminton star lauded the athletes for their efforts at the Games, even as he commended the association and the Veterans for adding values and encouraging standards in the sport.
Kazeem stated that squash is one of the three events that raked in the most medals that the state won at the 2017 NYG, just as he also praised the coaches for a job well done.
In his remarks, chairman, Kwara State Squash Association, Professor Yinka Buhari said that the recognition was to motivate the athletes ahead of future tournaments, and to encourage other budding athletes too in the state.
He said that the association will continue to do its best within the resources available to it, while also expressing displeasure with way the state lost former Kwara champion, Abdulrahman Lanre to Lagos state.
It will be recalled that Rofiat Abdulazeez defeated teammate, Odunade Adeyi 3-1 in the girls singles final, while Durosinlorun Uthman conquered Abdulrahman Nasiru in the boys singles final of the squash event.
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Caption: Kwara Director of Sports, Mallam Tunde Kazeem.
Dr Ladipo Adepoju last Sunday emerged winner of the 2017 Obafemi Awolowo Tennis Club (OATC) intra-club tournament sponsored by a member of the club, Mr Tunji Lam-Adesina.
Adepoju, defeated Mr Obinna Odigwe in a nervy final decided on Court 1 of the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 to claim the star prize of the tournament.
The semi-finalists, messrs Emeka Alfred and Tunde Adejuwon also went home with consolation prize money for their efforts.
Alfred had lost to the eventual winner while Adejuwon was stopped by Obinna also in the semi-final.
OATC Captain, Mr Kunle Yusuf, in his remarks thanked members for their participation in the tournament, as he noted that organising periodic competitions would aid members to improve.
"The mood of playing in a competition is always different from that of training games and it helps a lot as it can be used as basis for self-evaluation though, we have to de-emphasise winning in order to enhance a healthy competition," Yusuf stated.
He commended the sponsor for sustaining the tournament which started last year adding that:"the level of support from members of the club has been remarkable and I thank Mr Adesina on behalf of the club for sponsoring this competition for the second year running".
