Davis Cup Drama: Nigeria’s Bulus Defeats Van Wyk to Level Tie

In a stunning turn of events at the Davis Cup World Group II tie, Nigeria’s Christopher Bulus delivered a sensational performance to defeat South Africa’s Kris van Wyk, leveling the tie after an initial loss and keeping Nigeria’s hopes alive in Pretoria.

The host nation, South Africa, appeared to be cruising after Philip Henning comfortably defeated Nigeria’s David Ekpenyong 6-1, 6-1 in the opening match. With momentum on their side, fans anticipated another smooth victory in the second singles match.

However, Bulus, ranked 1015 on the ATP, had other ideas. Despite losing the first set 6-3 to Van Wyk, ATP-ranked 358, the Nigerian bounced back fiercely. He took an early 3-0 lead in the second set and closed it out 6-3, showcasing grit and determination.

The decisive third set saw Van Wyk leading 5-3 and holding match point at 40-30. But Bulus staged a remarkable comeback, saving the match point and winning crucial games to level the set at 5-5. Both players held serve, sending the contest into a dramatic seven-point tiebreak.

In the tiebreak, Bulus and Van Wyk exchanged serves, but it was the Nigerian who gained the upper hand, holding match point at 6-3. Though Van Wyk fought back, Bulus sealed the victory 7-4, triggering wild celebrations from the Nigerian supporters inside the Groenkloof Tennis Stadium.

The win marks a major upset and a pivotal moment for Nigeria in the Davis Cup campaign. With the tie now level at 1-1, all eyes are on the final day of action, which will feature two more singles and a doubles match. The young Nigerian team is now poised to push for a historic berth in the Davis Cup World Group II.