Last Sunday, Carlos Alcaraz of Spain successfully defended his Wimbledon men’s singles title in a rematch of last year’s final against Novak Djokovic of Serbia. The 21-year-old Spaniard proved his dominance by defeating Djokovic in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4).
Alcaraz’s victory brings his total Grand Slam titles to four, including the 2022 US Open and a recent French Open win. After the match, the world number three expressed his joy, saying he had dreamt of winning Wimbledon since he was 11 or 12 and declared, “I’m living my dream, [but] I want to keep going.”
In the Wimbledon women’s singles, Barbara Krejčíková of the Czech Republic secured her second Grand Slam title by overcoming Italy’s Jasmine Paolini with a score of 6-2, 2-6, 6-4. The 28-year-old described it as “the best day of my tennis career and the best day of my life.”
With such thrilling matches, tennis continues to captivate audiences worldwide. Macao has embraced this tennis fever, hosting events like the MGM Macau Tennis Invitational and the Chinese Tennis Association Tour Professional Finals and National Tennis Championships last year.
For those inspired to improve their tennis skills, there are several classes available in Macao. Here are some options:
Macao International Tennis Centre
Macao International Tennis Centre (MITC) offers comprehensive tennis classes for all ages and skill levels. Head instructor Ram Raj, an International Tennis Federation Level 2 coach with extensive experience, leads the programs. He was involved with the Macao Tennis Association for five years and collaborated with the Macao Team for the East Asian Games.
MITC provides a variety of class types, including individual, semi-individual, small group, adult, and mini lessons, as well as a year-round tennis camp focusing on tactical training, point play, and match play. Classes are held on public tennis courts in Taipa, with prices available upon request. For more details, visit Coach Ram’s Facebook page.
Dream Star Tennis (夢想之星網球協會)
Dream Star Tennis, located in the Red Market area, opened in 2023 and is the first in Macao to offer indoor tennis lessons for children. Founder Ramson Cheong, with nineteen years of coaching experience, was inspired to create an indoor training center after observing various training methods in places like Shanghai.
Dream Star Tennis offers a range of classes, some in English. Children aged 5 to 9 can enroll in tennis and rope skipping classes for 799 patacas for four sessions. Additionally, 45-minute indoor tennis experience classes for children and adults are available for 99 patacas and 198 patacas respectively. The school also has a summer program for kids aged 3 to 12, running from June to August. Contact Dream Star Tennis for more information.
Macao Tennis Youth Academy (澳門少年網球學校)
Established eighteen years ago, the Macao Tennis Youth Academy is renowned for its tennis training for children. Jointly organized by the Sports Bureau and the Macau Tennis Association, the academy offers systematic classes taught by experienced coaches at Rua de Ténis in Cotai for 150 patacas.
However, the academy has limited seats and selects students through an annual Selection Day. The recruitment process for 2024 has concluded, but selection for 2025 will begin at the end of this year or early next year.
With these excellent training options, aspiring tennis players in Macao have the opportunity to hone their skills and potentially become the next big stars in the sport.