In a country where tennis dreams are just beginning to take root, Eliakim Coulibaly delivered a storybook ending. On a buzzing Sunday afternoon in Abidjan, the 22-year-old Ivorian claimed his first ATP Challenger title, giving hope for a new and exciting chapter in African tennis.
Embed from Getty ImagesThis was no ordinary final. With the inaugural Abidjan Challenger marking a historic moment for Ivory Coast, it seemed fitting that the homegrown talent would take centre stage. Trained at the famed Mouratoglou Tennis Academy, Coulibaly faced another African player, top seed Aziz Dougaz of Tunisia. Dougaz had lived up to top billing, having swept through the week without losing a set.
Shaky Start, Steely Resolve
Nerves gripped Coulibaly early, and Dougaz, the seasoned favorite, wasted little time asserting himself. A break for 3-1 seemed to signal trouble for the local, who struggled to find his footing under the weight of expectation. Yet, with every shout from the packed stands, Coulibaly began to loosen up.
At 5-4, he even carved out two set points. Dougaz, however, showed the composure of a veteran, saving both and ultimately snatching the opening set in a tense tiebreak.
It was a gut punch – but with a raucous home crowd behind him – not a knockout.
Embed from Getty ImagesFueled by the Crowd, Coulibaly Fights Back
With the packed stands roaring him on, Coulibaly regrouped. Early in the 2nd set, he broke Dougaz’s serve, sparking a surge of belief that carried through his own service games. Confident and composed, he leveled the match with a 6-4 set, and the energy inside the stadium shifted dramatically in his favour.
The 3rd set brought more of the same. Another early break sent the Abidjan crowd into a frenzy. Coulibaly, now riding a wave of emotion, served with precision and confidence, refusing to give Dougaz any openings.
After 2 hours of gripping, emotional tennis, Coulibaly sealed another 6-4 set — and with it, a dream victory on home soil. As he dropped to the court in triumph, it was obvious this wasn’t just a title – as cliched as it might sound – this was a dream come true in every sense of the meaning.
To hold an ATP event in Ivory Coast was exciting enough for the locals. To even consider a local player could make it all the way through to the final match of the week, and hold the trophy aloft, would’ve seemed out of the realm of possibility. But it happened.
Eliakim Coulibaly didn’t just win the tournament in Abidjan — he’s won the hearts of the country, and given hope to African tennis. For a country that had long awaited a hero, his timing couldn’t have been better.
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