Tennis academy aims to improve junior players’ skill level
THE Ace Tennis Academy aims to improve the skill level of the junior players in the country.
The academy, which is run by former Fiji junior champion Sachin Reddy, held a six-day training camp at the Tennis Fiji Regional Training Centre in Lautoka recently.
The program was for two groups of players. The first was for players who were beginners using red tennis balls.
Red tennis is named after the red foam or felt balls that are used, which bounce lower and move slowly through the air.
This gives beginners a chance to set up and take a good swing at the ball.
Reddy said the players used smaller rackets so they could know the basics of improving their tennis skills.
“With this way, the beginners can work on hand and eye coordination as well,” he said.
“The second group consisted of existing academy players who train weekly at the centre.
“So their target was to improve their fitness, strategies and techniques to play better tennis.”
Reddy who is currently away in New
Zealand to officiate in the ASB Classic Women’s Tennis Association (WTA)/ Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) competition in Auckland, said 21 players participated in the training camp. He said the number could have been higher, but many players had gone abroad to enjoy the festive period.
“The aim for the academy is to recruit more new players into the sport of tennis,” Reddy said.
“I want to make the academy recognised in Fiji and abroad.”
Reddy is making his fifth appearance at the ASB Classic as a line umpire.
He previously officiated in matches which included former number one players like Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) and Venus Williams (United States).