Nigeria’s Taiwo Mati will be hoping to revive his 2025 WTT Contender Tunis campaign when he faces India’s Snehit Suravajjula today (Wednesday) in his second men’s singles group match. Mati, ranked 562nd in the world and 10th in Nigeria, started his tournament with a 3-1 loss to Malta’s Kim Taehyun at the Salle Omnisport de Rades in Tunis, Tunisia.
Despite a bright start, Mati struggled to keep up with Kim’s pace, losing the first game 11-7 before fighting back to take the second 11-9. However, Kim found another gear and dominated the third game 11-5 before edging the fourth 13-11 to seal the match. In total, Kim won 44 points to Mati’s 34, with both players performing closely on serve.
Kim’s greater control and effectiveness on return proved to be the deciding factor, as he built the biggest lead of six points and strung together six consecutive points at his peak. Mati, on the other hand, managed a high of three points and a four-point run, overcoming only a one-point deficit during the match compared to Kim’s three.
Although disappointed, Mati remains mathematically in the race for qualification from the group. His next opponent, Suravajjula, ranked among the top 100 in the world, will offer another stern challenge. A win would boost Mati’s hopes of progressing to the knockout rounds, where the prize money and ranking points become more rewarding.
A place in the round of 32 guarantees $650 and four world ranking points, while a win in the round of 16 offers $825 and 35 points. Reaching the quarter-finals brings in $1,025 and 70 points. Players who go further can earn $1,275 and 140 points in the semi-finals, while the runner-up takes home $2,500 and 280 points. The winner of the tournament pockets $5,000 and 400 ranking points.
With a total prize pool of $100,000 and valuable ranking points up for grabs, Mati will be looking to cause an upset in Group 10. He came into the tournament with nine world ranking points and will be eager to add to his tally. A strong performance against Suravajjula could be just what Mati needs to turn his campaign around.