By Ben Efe 29-5-2025
Holzendorff young Nigerian/German tennis prodigy aiming to conquer the world
Lorelay Holzendorff representing Edo State at the 22nd National Sports Festival was the star of the Gateway Games tennis event even though she settled for a silver medal in the ladies single.
The 14-year-old Holzendorff lost 6-4, 6-3 to Nigeria’s number one tennis player for five years running Oyinlomo Quadri in the ladies singles final, Holzendorff was the central attraction as she fought gallantly against Quadri an established USA collegiate tennis player.
“First of all, I’m excited participating in my first National Sports Festival; and getting to the final to play against a strong opponent and winning silver is more exciting,” said Holzendorff who as a seven-year-old kid ran the 10km race Warri Effurun Peace Marathon.
Quadri was impressed with the fight Holzendorff put up against her.
“She is very good and a very spirited tennis player and it just incredible that at her age she is this skillful.
“She has clean ground strokes, and she is fearless.”
Holzendorff’s coach Nosa Akpata said the kid prodigy has a great future in the sport, he called on Nigerian tennis enthusiasts to give her total support to get to the zenith of tennis.
“She is a very courageous kid, and her best is yet to come,” coach Akpata said.
“She is not very far off the Nigerian number one, and she fought hard not giving up easily.
“In the first set she was down, but I reminded her that for her to be a champion, she has to beat the champion, and she fought back gallantly, she is going to be a great player.
“On the way to the final she defeated other foreign based players who represented other states.”