Tennis academy director bullish about S’pore’s tennis future

SINGAPORE — Considering the number of Asians who are competing on the men’s ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) and the women’s WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Tours, there is little reason why Singaporeans cannot do well in the sport.

However, a wide talent base must be developed at the grassroots, and a proper youth development system put in place to produce such talented players for Singapore.

So said American Robert Davis, the new technical director of ActiveSG’s new tennis academy which was launched at the Kallang Squash and Tennis Centre yesterday morning.

More than 200 kids attended the launch which was graced by Culture, Community and Youth Minister Grace Fu.

With Davis on board, ActiveSG aims to have 4,000 kids taking part in its tennis programmes by the end of the year. The 46-year-old is the former national coach for Thailand and Peru, and also worked with ATP Tour players Toshihide Matsui of Japan, Pakistani Aisam Qureshi and Christopher Rungkat of Indonesia.

In fact, 2011 SEA Games men’s singles champion Rungkat is one of three players from the region that Davis has roped in as visiting coaches for the programme. The others are 2009 SEA Games women’s singles winner Lavinia Tananta and 2006 Asian Games men’s singles champion Danai Udomchoke.

“Singapore is doing something really unique with this tennis academy,” said Davis.

“It is unlike other tennis academies I’ve visited around the world which are driven by profit. My vision is for it to be a hub for Singaporean and other Asian players.

“With the Singapore Sports Institute, the facilities and infrastructure, and many sports experts in the fields of psychology and nutrition and so on, it is like an Olympic Village. It is a tremendous opportunity for local players and coaches alike to become quite good.”

The ActiveSG tennis academy will kick off its pilot mini tennis programme this Saturday (July 9) for children aged 5-12 at more than 10 school indoor sports halls. This is a modified form of the sport for kids, using shorter racquets and low compression balls on smaller courts.

Junior (for 7-12 years) and youth development (12-16 years) academies will be launched in the fourth quarter this year at Kallang and Yio Chu Kang Tennis Centres. Adults (17 and above) can join the adult tennis group. ADELENE WONG