TENNIS - The African Mirror

Aug

08

2025

From war-torn DRC roots to Canadian Open Glory: The rise of Victoria Mboko, tennis’ newest star

TENNIS

IN a stunning display of talent and resilience, wildcard Victoria Mboko, an 18-year-old rising tennis star with deep African roots, shocked the tennis world by defeating the four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka to claim her first WTA title at the Canadian Open. Her victory, achieved in her breakthrough tournament, is much more than a sporting triumph - it is a story woven with courage, history, and hope, resonating deeply across Africa. Victoria Mboko’s remarkable journey begins long before her tennis rise, in the turbulent landscapes of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In 1999, amidst a devastating war that…

Nov

02

2022

By The African Mirror

Serena Williams’ investment boots Nigeria’s technology sector

TENNIS

NIGERIA is the leading African destination for foreign direct investments in technology startup businesses. Between 2015 and 2022, Nigerian technology startups have secured funding totalling just over US$2 billion. This is the highest amount of funding recorded by any country in Africa. The “big-four” countries of Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa and Kenya, are leading Africa’s startup scene. They currently account for about a third of the continent’s start-up incubators and accelerators and receive 80% of technology startup FDI into Africa. What is interesting is that Nigeria remains the top destination for technology investments in Africa despite its endemic corruption, high…

Jul

11

2022

By The African Mirror

Tennis star is Tunisia’s ‘minister of happiness’

TENNIS

ONS Jabeur from Tunisia has become the first African and the first Arab woman tennis player since 1968 to reach a tennis grand slam singles final. She’s done so at the Wimbledon tennis tournament. Author MONIA LACHHEB, Professor of Sociology, Université de la Manouba The open or professional era in tennis started in 1968 and the grand slams are the world’s biggest tournaments – the US Open, the Australian Open, the French Open and Wimbledon in the UK. Jabeur is also the highest-ranked African and Arab player in open-era history – currently second in the world. On court Jabeur is…

Dec

03

2021

By The African Mirror

WTA suspends tournaments in China over Peng concerns

TENNIS

FRANK PINGUE THE Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has drawn criticism from China for its decision to suspend all tournaments in the Asian nation out of concern for the well-being of star player Peng Shuai and the safety of other players. Unconvinced by Peng's public appearances since a scandal broke a month ago over her sexual assault accusations against Chinese former Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli, the WTA said it wanted assurances of her well-being and has sought an investigation. The decision comes as Beijing prepares to host the Winter Olympics in February. Global rights groups and others have called for a boycott…

Dec

07

2021

By The African Mirror

German athletes’ group urges IOC to investigate Peng’s safety

TENNIS

GERMANY’S independent elite athletes' organisation has urged the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to provide evidence of the safety of Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai and called for an independent investigation into her situation. Peng's whereabouts became a matter of international concern following a nearly three-week public absence after she posted a message on social media in early November alleging that China's former Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli had sexually assaulted her. Neither Zhang, who retired in 2018, nor the Chinese government has commented on Peng's allegation and the topic has been blocked from direct discussion on China's heavily censored internet. In the…