It is our first time coming to Jakarta for a tennis tournament.
Sometimes I stop and think about how far we have come. A few years ago, international tournaments felt like something for other people. Today, we are boarding flights, checking into hotels, and preparing to compete against players from another country.
The journey itself is already a victory.
I believe 2026 will teach us many important lessons in our pursuit of becoming better tennis players. Every tournament is another chapter in that journey.
This trip also reminded me of something I often tell parents: many wait too long before exposing their children to tournaments. They hope their child will be “ready” first, but in reality, tournaments are what help players become ready. That is why I believe parents should invest in tournaments earlier than they think.
This time, our goal goes beyond results. As coaches, we want to study the level of Indonesian tennis, understand their playing style, and identify what we can learn to improve our own players.
Over the past three years, we have spent a lot of time competing in Thailand. Those tournaments gave us a clear picture of their playing style, strengths, and weaknesses. More importantly, they taught us where our own players stood.
Recently, we also tested ourselves in Singapore. It was another valuable learning experience.
Now, Jakarta presents another opportunity.
One tournament will never tell the whole story. We cannot judge the level of a country’s tennis from a single week. But every journey has to start somewhere. Every tournament gives us another piece of the puzzle.
That is how development works.
Managing Costs Wisely
One pleasant surprise about Jakarta is the cost of living.
The strength of the Malaysian Ringgit against the Indonesian Rupiah allows us to stay in better accommodation while spending less compared to countries like Singapore. We can eat well, travel comfortably, and still keep our expenses under control.
This is important because tennis is not a sprint. It is a marathon that can last 10 to 15 years.
Even if a family has the financial ability to spend more, it does not mean everything should be spent at the beginning. Good financial management keeps the journey sustainable.
The goal is not simply to attend one tournament. The goal is to be able to attend tournaments consistently for many years. Consistency beats one time spending.
Tournament Expenses Are Part of Player Development
One question I often hear from parents is:
“Is it really worth spending so much money just to play a tournament?”
My answer is always yes.
Tournament expenses should never be seen as money spent only for matches. They are investments into a player’s development.
There are three essential pillars in junior tennis development: the coach, quality training, and competition. I explain this concept in more detail in my article, The Triangle for Success in Tennis.
- The Coach
- The Training
- The Matches (Tournaments)
Without tournaments, training has no proper examination. Without competition, coaches are simply making assumptions. Only tournaments reveal the truth. They expose technical weaknesses. They expose physical limitations. They expose tactical decision making. Most importantly, they expose mental strength. Those lessons simply cannot be replicated during practice.
Waiting Too Long Can Slow Development
One common mistake I see is parents waiting for the “right time” before sending their children to tournaments.
They wait until the player becomes stronger.
They wait until the player wins locally.
They wait until the player is more confident.
They wait until the ranking improves.
Unfortunately, that perfect time rarely arrives.
Players become better because they compete.
Not the other way around.
A child does not gain experience by waiting.
Experience comes from travelling.
Experience comes from losing.
Experience comes from facing stronger opponents.
Experience comes from solving problems under pressure.
The earlier players are exposed to these situations, the earlier they begin adapting.
Every tournament shortens the learning curve.
What Are Parents Actually Paying For?
Many parents only calculate the visible expenses.
Flight tickets.
Hotels.
Food.
Tournament registration.
Transport.
Those are easy to see.
But what they often miss are the invisible returns.
Every tournament gives players opportunities to:
- Experience different playing styles.
- Learn how other countries train.
- Adapt to different court conditions.
- Handle different weather.
- Compete under pressure.
- Build emotional resilience.
- Become more independent.
- Learn match routines.
- Improve travel discipline.
- Develop professionalism.
These are lessons that cannot be bought inside a tennis academy.
Breaking Down the Cost
Let’s look at where the money usually goes.
Flights
Transportation normally takes the biggest portion of the budget.
Flights to and from the tournament destination can be expensive depending on the country and booking time.
Young players also require an adult.
That means either:
- A parent accompanies the player.
- A coach accompanies the player.
If a coach travels, parents normally share coaching fees, accommodation, transportation, and daily allowance. In our situation, being both father and coach reduces many of these costs. We are fortunate. Not every family has this arrangement, so parents need to plan accordingly.
Accommodation
Accommodation is another significant expense. Fortunately, the Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) tournament format gives players plenty of matches. Even players who lose in the first round of the main draw continue playing consolation events. Most main draw players will play four to five matches during the week.
When parents divide the total tournament cost by the number of competitive matches played, the investment becomes much more reasonable. But the real value goes beyond the number of matches. Every match provides information. Every opponent teaches something. Every loss reveals another area that needs improvement. Those lessons are often worth far more than the hotel bill.
Food
Food is necessary because athletes need proper fuel. Fortunately, this is one area parents can control. Players can choose affordable local food or more expensive restaurants. Good nutrition is important, but smart spending is equally important.
Tournament Entry Fees
ATF tournament entry fees are generally between USD65 and USD75. At first glance, the conversion into Malaysian Ringgit may seem expensive. However, if a player receives five matches during the tournament, the registration fee works out to approximately USD13 to USD15 per match. Considering the quality of international competition, that is actually excellent value.
Daily Transportation
Travelling between the hotel and tournament venue is another cost many parents forget to include. Taxi fares, ride hailing services, or rental transport accumulate throughout the week. Planning accommodation closer to the venue can often save both money and energy.
The Most Valuable Thing Parents Bring Home
Many people think tournaments are about collecting trophies.
I disagree.
The most valuable thing we bring home is knowledge. Every tournament answers important questions. Can our serve hold up under pressure Can we handle heavy topspin? Can we deal with bigger hitters? Can we return stronger serves? Can we recover mentally after losing a close set? Those answers become our next training programme.
Without tournaments, coaches are simply guessing what needs improvement. With tournaments, training becomes targeted. That is how players improve faster.
Development Is an Investment, Not an Expense
Parents should not view tournaments as a holiday. Neither should they view them as a gamble. They are an investment. Just like education. Just like music lessons. Just like learning a new language. Every tournament builds experience that compounds over time. One tournament may not change a player. Ten tournaments probably will. Fifty tournaments almost certainly will.
The players who reach higher levels are rarely those who had one amazing tournament.
They are usually the ones who accumulated years of international experience.
Final Thoughts
Not every family has the same financial resources. Every family’s situation is different, and parents should always spend within their means.
However, if the dream is to develop a competitive tennis player, tournaments cannot be postponed forever. There will never be a perfect time. There will only be today, or later.
The earlier a player starts learning internationally, the longer they have to improve. And in junior tennis, time is one thing that cannot be bought back. The money spent on tournaments may seem expensive today. But the experience gained can shape a player’s future for many years to come.
