Defending champions Anders Lind and Honoka Hashimoto are on the verge of making history at the WTT Contender Lagos as both players move within one win of becoming the first athletes to successfully defend their singles titles.
Since the tournament began in 2023, no player has managed to win back to back titles, making Sunday’s finals a potential landmark moment in the competition’s short history.
Lind, who captured the men’s singles crown in 2025 after defeating Croatia’s Tomislav Pucar, has returned to Lagos for his third appearance and is now one win away from becoming the first male champion to retain the title.
The Danish star had to battle through a tough semi final clash against South Korea’s Lim Jonghoon, edging a closely fought 3–2 victory to book his place in the final. He will now face South Korea’s rising talent Oh Junsung, who impressed with a strong semi final win over India’s Manush Shah.
In the women’s category, Hashimoto is also chasing history after winning the title on her debut appearance in Lagos last year. She delivered a dominant semi final performance, defeating South Korea’s Cheonhui Joo in straight sets to secure her place in the final.
However, standing in her way is fellow Japanese star and top seed Satsuki Odo, who advanced with a convincing win over compatriot Hitomi Sato.
The women’s final is expected to be a tactical showdown between Hashimoto’s defensive style and Odo’s aggressive ing approach, while the men’s final promises an intense battle between Lind’s experience and Oh Junsung’s youthful energy.
Both finals carry added significance as the players aim to become the first ever back to back champions in the history of the Lagos tournament.
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