Limited sports injury surveillance systems in developing countries create challenges in tracking injury patterns and developing preventive strategies. Therefore, this study examined newspaper-reported tennis injuries through a content analysis of five major Nigerian daily newspapers published between 2020 and 2025. The study aimed to determine the distribution and association of reported injury patterns across different player expertise levels. A quantitative content analysis design was employed, and a total of 224 injury reports were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s Chi-square test of independence. The findings indicated that elite players accounted for the majority of reported injuries (72.32%) compared with amateur players (27.68%). Lower extremity injuries, particularly knee and hip conditions, were the most frequently reported injuries across both player groups. No statistically significant association was observed between injury locations and player expertise levels (p = 0.277), suggesting that elite and amateur tennis players experience similar anatomical vulnerability patterns. Upper extremity injuries, especially shoulder and elbow conditions, were also commonly reported, reflecting the repetitive biomechanical demands of tennis participation. The findings highlight the potential value of digital newspaper archives as an alternative source for sports injury surveillance in settings with limited centralized clinical reporting systems. This study provides additional evidence supporting the integration of media-based surveillance approaches into sports epidemiology research and injury prevention planning in developing countries.