Players Halt Day 1 of DavNotch Tennis Championship Over Prize Money Dispute

The 2026 DavNotch Limited National Tennis Championship was thrown into uncertainty on Monday after players staged a protest over what they described as inadequate prize money, forcing a temporary suspension of opening-day activities at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

The players refused to take to the courts, instead gathering around the venue in a peaceful demonstration while demanding an immediate review of the tournament’s prize structure.

Carrying their rackets and chanting solidarity songs, the athletes argued that the financial rewards on offer no longer reflect Nigeria’s economic realities, citing rising costs of transportation, accommodation, feeding and equipment.

A major source of discontent was the ₦35,000 awarded to first-round losers, which players said is insufficient to cover the expenses incurred in participating in the championship.

The protesters also criticised the deduction of a 10 per cent withholding tax from prize money paid to early-round losers, describing it as an additional burden on already modest earnings.

Further concerns were raised over the increase in registration fees from ₦1,000 in previous editions to ₦5,000 this year.

Players noted that the winner’s prize of ₦500,000 has remained unchanged since 2017 despite years of inflation and a significant rise in the cost of living.

“How can the winner still receive the same ₦500,000 in 2026 that was paid in 2017 despite the current economic realities?” one player asked during the protest.

Another athlete said the current prize structure fails to address the financial realities facing competitors.

“We are not asking for luxury. Most of us spend far more than ₦35,000 just to travel to Abuja and stay for the competition. After registration fees and tax deductions, there is very little left,” the player said.

The protesters repeatedly chanted, “2017 prize money is better than 2026 prize money,” arguing that although the nominal figures remain the same, their actual value has been eroded by inflation and increasing living costs.

They called on tournament organisers and the Nigeria Tennis Federation to urgently review the prize structure and improve player welfare.

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The protest reignites a long-running debate about athlete compensation in Nigerian tennis. Players have previously voiced similar concerns at both the DavNotch Championship and the VEMP Open Championship, arguing that prize money has failed to keep pace with the rising cost of competing on the domestic circuit.

Officials of the Nigeria Tennis Federation and tournament organisers were reportedly engaged in discussions with player representatives in an effort to resolve the dispute and allow the competition to proceed.

As of the time of filing this report, organisers had not issued an official statement on the protest or indicated whether any adjustment to the prize money structure would be made.

The development has once again brought athlete welfare in Nigerian tennis into sharp focus, with stakeholders warning that continued dissatisfaction over compensation could discourage participation and hamper efforts to develop the sport at the grassroots and elite levels.