Late Post!
Three NTTAcademy players went on to compete in the tournament held in Oceanic, Phuket. Stayed in the Oceanic Sportel for 2 nights there. It was an on court facilities including the hotel room.
We started our journey by cars on Friday morning from Malaysian- Thailand border. Had our breakfast in Padang Besar, Thailand. Getting the signature breakfast the khao mok (chicken rice) there.
The journey was 8 hours drive with a lot of stopping in between. Reached Phuket around 4pm that day and we check in and rest.
This tournament is the Circuit 1, and whats good about this tournament is that, players can register for two categories. Reefa and Raihah entered the 10 & 12 under while Aryan was only playing the 14 & under. The attraction dis not stop there, they were also registered the tournament to UTR, the universal tennis rating. Thats mean, players will get their UTR rating in every matches.
This is where they can measure and see how well their UTR numbers can reach. Good for the kids to be introduced with UTR. Though they have been playing already the UTR tournaments, but they do not get many UTR tournaments in Malaysia except the Mouratouglou Tennis Academy, in Epsom College.
We have been to Thailand but without any title yet. This time around, Reefa went on to the finals in 10 & under category. In the final round, Reefa has beat her opponent where she lost a couple months before the tournament. It was in Suratthani where she lost 1-4, 4-1, (9-11). In this tournament, she won 4-1, 4-2.
She made an upset to the 1st seeded of the tournament in 10 under while losing to a better player in 12 under. Raihah lost in the quarter final to the 1st seeded that Reefa met in the final.
Aryan was also performing well in the tournament. He manage to get to semi finals, losing in a close 2nd set match.
Whats good about Phuket, it is an island with a lot of tourist attractions. The kids love the beaches and we can have a little detour from tennis there.
The tournaments for the first time have invited two coaches from US College to be at the tournaments. Parents were able to book a one on one session with them to ask about US college query and details. The coaches were very helpful in giving insights of the US college selection process for scholarships.
What parents need to expect and what level of playing ability the players need to get.
The free sessions were given to parents in this tournament was an added value every parents should take. I believe with their vast experience in coaching, the parents and other coaches will have good discussion with them.
The bigger picture of tennis college was well explained by the coaches in the session, together with the “how” to get there in the next few years. It was something unexpected in the tournament and was glad we joined.
More tournaments coming up soon.