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TRIBUNNEWS.COM, JAKARTA - Following a successful WTA Future Masterclass with former WTA World No. 1 doubles player, Sania Mirza, in Hyderabad, India in July, the WTA continues on its outreach in Asia to Jakarta, Indonesia.
Hosted at the Yayuk Basuki Tennis Academy, named after and managed by Indonesia’s hometown hero, the former WTA World No. 19 welcomed fellow Asian WTA Legend from Thailand, Tamarine Tanasugarn to join her in the WTA Future Stars Clinic.
On court with the Basuki and Tanasugarn, both also serving as WTA Finals Legend Ambassadors this year, were 10 local junior players who received tips from two of the best tennis players to ever represent Asia.
As part of the WTA Charities global initiative to reach out to the underserved, 20 children from the local orphanage Yayasan Rumah Piatu Muslimin were also invited to enjoy an afternoon of tennis.
Yayasan Rumah Piatu Muslimin provides free shelter, education and care to young orphans, abandoned and underprivileged children regardless of their ethnicity, religion and race so that they are able to grow up to be independent and contribute to society. This is the second year that these children have participated in the WTA Future Stars clinic.
Tanasugarn and Basuki offered advice on a range of themes, such as the importance of teamwork, doubles match strategy and the keys to success on court. The accomplished pair also inspired the children with tales of WTA life, travelling the world.
With six WTA singles titles and nine doubles titles under her belt, Basuki is a local hero that the next generation can identify with and look up to. After the clinic, Yayuk shared, “Tennis has given me such a great life, and I have learnt so many valuable lessons on the court that have helped me off the court. I am proud to be a role model to the next generation and I hope that more of them aspire to achieve success and work hard towards it.”
Former WTA World No. 20 and holder of four singles as well as eight doubles titles, Tanasugarn was excited to be in Jakarta to return the favour, as Basuki had visited Thailand in May earlier this year for the WTA Future Stars Bangkok event.
She shared after the clinic, “I am so pleased to be part of the WTA Future Stars programme which I think is very important as it promotes the sport throughout our region. To be able to work with WTA and partner with Yayuk to reach out to the next generation in South East Asia means a lot to me, and hopefully we inspire them to pursue their passion for tennis.”
The WTA Future Stars Clinic is part of a regional platform to promote tennis among children throughout Asia-Pacific. The WTA Future Stars Tournament, held in Singapore in October, brings together players from 17 markets in the Asia-Pacific region on their very own junior Road to Singapore.
Each country sends two representatives, one each in the U14 and U16 categories, to compete against each other during the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
“It is a privilege for us as the WTA to be in the position to positively influence the youth of this region. Through the WTA Future Stars programme and the involvement of our WTA Legends like Yayuk and Tammy, we hope to encourage children in Asia to live a better life through sport. This platform allows us to not only inspire junior players to continue to pursue their passion in tennis, but also to educate others on the sport so that we can look forward to seeing more children with racquets in hand,” said Melissa Pine, Vice President of WTA Asia-Pacific and Tournament Director of the WTA Finals.
Speaking after the clinic,Carolina Martha Sanjaya , an under-14 junior player said, “It was such a great experience being able to hit with the two WTA Legends today.
The interaction with them has really given me the belief that if I work hard and stay focused, I will be able to fulfil my dreams, so I am motivated to keep training!”
To wrap up the day, the WTA and WTA Finals promoters Lagardère Sports hosted a cocktail evening attended by media and stakeholders at the Sultan Hotel to promote The BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore 2017 presented by SC Global.
The crown-jewel of the WTA calendar will take place in Singapore from October 22 – 29 2017 where the best in women’s tennis will compete for the year’s biggest prize purse of US$7 million.
Players accumulate points throughout the saeason and the top eight singles players and doubles teams on the Porsche Race to Singapore leaderboard then compete in the season finale at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.