Eliakim Coulibaly, a tennis player representing Cote d’Ivoire at the African Games, shared his insights with Sports 247 in an interview, shedding light on the competitive nature of the tournament and his personal aspirations in the sport.
Reflecting on the African Games competition, Coulibaly emphasized the high level of competitiveness, with top players from across Africa vying for coveted Olympic spots. He expressed admiration for the quality of the tournament and the dream of earning a spot at the Olympics, a pinnacle achievement for any athlete.
“No, it’s really good, it’s really competitive because you have all the best players in Africa, you know, who wants one spot which is obviously the Olympic, like it’s a dream, you know, you got like players that are ranked top in the world like I am too, so it’s a really good tournament and it’s really competitive, yeah.”
Regarding his own performance, Coulibaly recounted a recent loss, highlighting the disappointment of falling short in a closely contested match. Despite the setback, he remained optimistic about his potential to compete at the highest level.
While reflecting on the lowest and highest moments of his African Games experience, Coulibaly revealed the disappointment of losing a match he believed he could have won, mixed with the joy of representing West Africa in a tournament hosted in neighbouring Ghana.
Looking ahead, Eliakim Coulibaly outlined his plans to continue his professional tennis career, aiming to improve his ranking to qualify for prestigious Grand Slam tournaments. He expressed a dream of winning a Grand Slam title and qualifying for the Olympics, underscoring his long-term ambitions in the sport.
Coulibaly also shared his admiration for tennis legend Rafael Nadal, citing him as a role model whose playing style inspires him. Additionally, he acknowledged the influence of his father, who serves as a source of support and motivation in his tennis journey.
“My role model is Rafael Nadal who inspired me the most you know since I was a young player he’s been always you know in the back of my mind I love the way he plays on the court so I consider him a role model and one of my role model is also my dad who is also fighting every day you know to help me in my tennis career.”
When asked about his preferred playing surface, Coulibaly expressed a love for grass courts, particularly aspiring to win Wimbledon in the future. However, he noted his proficiency on hard courts and acknowledged his ability to adapt to different surfaces.
As Eliakim Coulibaly continues to pursue his tennis dreams, his passion, determination, and admiration for his role models serve as guiding forces in his journey towards success on the international stage.
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