ITF Director believes in Racquet Centre

Executive director of Tennis Development at the International Tennis Federation Luca Santilli, left, greets Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Darryl Smith, centre, and Tennis Association of TT president Hayden Mitchell.
Executive director of Tennis Development at the International Tennis Federation Luca Santilli, left, greets Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Darryl Smith, centre, and Tennis Association of TT president Hayden Mitchell.

Executive director of Tennis Development at the International Tennis Federation, Luca Santilli, gave the National Racquet Centre in Tacarigua a top grade after viewing it for the first time yesterday. The Italian believes the Tacarigua-based centre can be a hub for tennis in the region.

At a press conference yesterday, Santilli was given a tour and said, “I was very pleased to witness myself the high standard of this facility. It is not the same to be here than to look at the facility by photos or by videos. I am truly impressed by the quality of the facility. I believe there is the opportunity for Trinidad and Tobago to become a hub for tennis in the region and to establish themselves as the next leaders of the region.”

Santilli said it will be a long process to develop the facility but he said it has potential. “The good news is that we are together in this development journey. It is going to be a long journey, but I think there is potential to have results and I think this is the reason of my presence here today, and we look forward to implement and to achieve much more in the next 12 months,” he said.

Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Darryl Smith was also present and said he wants the facility to be used for the overall development of tennis.

“One of the things we are looking at is not just training for athletes, but also for umpires, referees, coaches and also conferences as well. This is a step in the right direction...the meeting went well today with regards to us formulating a plan. This is something that is new to Trinidad and Tobago, it is new to the region in terms of figuring out how to manage and how to take this facility to the next level,” he said.

Smith met with Santilli, president of the Tennis Association of TT Hayden Mitchell, Sports Company of TT chairman Dinanath Ramnarine and other officials yesterday.

Mitchell said major plans are in place by the local tennis body for the National Racquet Centre in 2018. “Next year we are developing a whole tournament schedule in terms of what we think this region needs,” Mitchell said.

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