Beach tennis is now an official sport in South Africa.
This was marked by a fun and informing event at the Pococks Indoor Beach Volleyball building in Northlands, on 13 March.
There, Tennis South Africa (TSA) invited members of the media to a discussion and game or two to better understand the sport.
After 12 months of trialling beach tennis across the country, TSA saw its potential as a fun alternative that provides for people of all ages and playing abilities.
“Visit any beach in South African during the festive season and you will see a wide variety of people playing a simple form of beach tennis – with a paddle and ball,” said Richard Glover, CEO of TSA . “What this demonstrates is that beach tennis is fun, easy-to-play and appeals to all ages. It offers a simple and easy entry point into our sport and we think it is a dynamic platform from which to grow tennis in South Africa.”
Already, TSA will host beach tennis events at the Rand Show, Arnold Classic and at two TSA Beach Tennis Classics.
South Africa will also send a team for the first time to the International Tennis Federations World Beach Championships.
As journalists and editors heard, and later found out through playing, beach tennis is much like volleyball on sand, with the net 1,7m high (tennis nets are only 1,07m high) and the ball is not allowed to bounce before it is returned.
The beach tennis rackets are solid, without strings, and require more force to hit the stage-2 tennis balls.
As journalists dived around in the sand and got a feel for the game, they began to understand what it would be like playing beach tennis at one of the beach tennis venues around the country.
In Gauteng, beach tennis can be played at Pococks Indoor Beach Volleyball in Northlands, in Centurion and at the University of Pretoria.
Courts are also in the pipeline in Midrand and at various Growthpoint Development Centres TSA plans to build around the country.
Beach tennis rackets are currently available at these venues, and from TopspinSA (online orders at www.topspinsa.com/shop), who are partners.
The choices may seem limited right now, but all good things have to start somewhere, a sentiment shared by most of the journalists who had a go on the courts.
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