Former number 10 ranked best Tennis player in Africa and the latest Non-Playing Captain of the Nigeria Tennis Team to the Davis Cup as appointed by the Nigeria Tennis Federation, Mr John Atiomo is now the latest member of the prestigious Crescent Sports Club of Benin-City.
John Atiomo, during his playing days was part of the Nigerian contingent to the All Africa Games in Nairobi, Kenya and also competed for the country in the 1987 and 1988 edition of the Davids cup.
In a very dignifying and colourful style, the left handed soft spoken Tennis Star was inducted into the membership of the Crescent Sports Club of Benin-City at the start of the week with the leadership of the club, led by its President, Barrister Eddy Aigbangbee in full attendance while the inductee also seized the occassion to show his football skills, greeted by the same panache with which he played Tennis as he was introduced in the 2nd half of a keenly contested game of football which is a weekly ritual at the Crescent Sports Club.
A native of Ubiaja, Edo State Nigeria, John Atiomo was at a time ranked number 3 in Nigeria and top-10 in Africa in 1988.
Atiomo in his active days was also known for setting the record for the longest-ever match in terms of games and points in Nigeria Tennis history when he partnered Tony Momoh to sensationally beat the Ivorian pair of Clement N’goran and Jean-Amihiaka Koffi 7-9, 1-6, 6-2, 9-7, 15-13 in an epic doubles rubber in March 1987 in Abidjan.