Tennis Forum!

[Dario]

Hi everyone,

 

I know, tennis isn't really the most popular sport in Thailand, badminton alone is already more popular.

 

After living for many many years in Bangkok, then bought a house in Pattaya and in 2010 built a house in northern Surin province, I re-discovered my passion for tennis again last year. By July I was looking for a tennis court in Surin province so my daughter Amy (10 years this year in June) could learn how to hit properly. You can see her training here. 

 

Not an easy undertaking ... at all!

 

By the end of July we ended up finally finding a coach in Buriram and we were kind of excited. But every SAT/SUN driving 125 km x 2 just for tennis training... We have to get up at 04:30 in order to hit the courts by 07:30, after 09:30 it's already too hot to play. In Nov ember we were lucky to be able to be coached twice in Surin by a British tennis player (excellent coach!), but after this short interlude, Paul started to build his large mansion and my guess is, that it won't be finished until the end of the year. 

 

If you live in a larger city in Thailand like BKK, Pattaya, or Hua Hin, you can find tennis courts and tennis players. But out in the country side, one can find rice fields and farmers, but no tennis courts. But I'm sure there are tennis afficionados anywhere in Thailand. I think we need a forum where people can discuss anything which has to do with tennis, be it how and where their kids could learn tennis, where to find coaches, where to buy best the required tennis gear like rackets, racket bags, clothes, tennis shoes, where they can learn about the governing associations in Thailand which oversee tennis, where tennis tournaments are held in this country.

 

There is also the international scene. Tomorrow morning starts one of the most important tennis events in the world, the Australian Open, short AO. anyone which has a name will be there participating. But where can you follow the events on TV? That is also something people would like to know. Truevision has channel 670 True Tennis and channels 680 Fox Sport 1 and 689 Fox Sport 2 showing tennis matches on Truevison Gold & Platinum packages Hua Hin Open is scheduled for January 28 - February 5th. So many things could be discussed in a TENNIS FORUM. Also Badminton can be included.

 

I would like to do a poll on this forum, just to see how interested (or not) people are here in Thailand. But I don't know how to insert a poll. Maybe one of the moderators can help.

 

So members with interest for and in tennis, please step forward to support this cause. Thank you!

 

 

[Crossy]

You seem to have manged to get a poll working ????

 

[Crossy]

17 minutes ago, Dario said:

Also Badminton can be included.

Smart idea, possibly table tennis too.

 

Maybe broaden to raquet sports to include squash.

 

[CharlieH]

Just use the existing "sports/hobbies" forum. Or a sub section of it. 

[Crossy]

9 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

Just use the existing "sports/hobbies" forum. Or a sub section of it. 

I think Dario wants to gauge support for a new sub off Sports/Hobbies.

[RickG16]

Murray is retiring so I'm not interested any more. 

[Dario]

3 minutes ago, RickG16 said:

Murray is retiring so I'm not interested any more. 

Murray was a great player, extraordinary, one of a kind, but there are other great players following in his footsteps. Federer, Dkokovic and Nadal will not be at the top anymore in a foreseeable time frame, others will take their place.

Edited January 13, 2019 by Dario

[RickG16]

Just now, Dario said:

Murray was a great player, extraordinary, but there are other great players following in his footsteps. 

British ones? 

 

I am very much a tennis casual so need some kind of stake in what I'm watching. Who knows, maybe his hip will magically repair and he will march to Aussie Open glory. 

[seajae]

our daughter was rated as one of the best tennis players for her age group up to under 15 when she started to do a lot of night and weekend study to make sure she got into uni, she is in uni now and still plays occasionally for her university team. There are tennis courts all over the south, and the competition is pretty fierce when they hold the Thailand age championships so it is popular here. 

[Dario]

22 minutes ago, seajae said:

our daughter was rated as one of the best tennis players for her age group up to under 15 when she started to do a lot of night and weekend study to make sure she got into uni, she is in uni now and still plays occasionally for her university team. There are tennis courts all over the south, and the competition is pretty fierce when they hold the Thailand age championships so it is popular here. 

Wish you lots of success with your daughter. Please vote "yes" for us. You can benefit from this forum as well. Thank you.

 

[alien365]

I'm not sure about for coaching but I know there are several courts at Si Narong stadium next to the airport. I hear there is also a tennis club behind the government office in the city too (round the corner from Rak Park). I don't live near Surin but personally, I go to my local university and high schools to play tennis and table tennis where coaching is available. 

[Dario]

Thank you for your message. By coincidence, we have visited those 2 courts behind the public health office very recently and have found an excellent coach. He's absolutely first class. We had already two sessions with him, have a look at Amy's Youtube channel here. 

[Dario]

1 hour ago, alien365 said:

I'm not sure about for coaching but I know there are several courts at Si Narong stadium next to the airport. I hear there is also a tennis club behind the government office in the city too (round the corner from Rak Park). I don't live near Surin but personally, I go to my local university and high schools to play tennis and table tennis where coaching is available. 

Thanks for your vote! Yours is the one we needed.

[Dario]

Update:

Today TUE 29/01/2019 I was informed by a TV moderator that the powers to be here have agreed that there will be no Tennis Forum as they fear that there would not be enough traffic. It's a pity. It shows that foreigners (same like the Thais) in Thailand are not interested in tennis at all. The vast majority have very different priorities when it comes to sport. If I were to ask for a dart forum, I would probably be much more successful. 

My thanks go out to the ones who have supported us with a YES.

Edited January 29, 2019 by Dario

[spidermike007]

Naomi Osaka is exactly what women's tennis needs. She is classy, humble, smart, and an astonishing talent, who does not wilt under pressure.

 

I am not a big fan of the women's game, due to the unwillingness to play five set matches, in the slams. I consider that to be grossly unfair to the men, who sometimes labor for five hours in these five setters. The fact that they demand the same compensation, makes it a semi illegitimate sport, in my opinion. But, having said that, Naomi is playing by the rules, and she is a great champion. 

[Dario]

Message to the moderators who voted on opening a Tennis Forum or not:

I do not criticize the outcome, how would I?! I only ask myself, what harm it would bring to TV to open a Tennis Forum. Does it cost you anything? I'm sure not. If there wouldn't be much manpower used in moderating that forum, TV wouldn't be losing anything. For some people such a forum would mean a lot. We could exchange our knowledge about where tennis courts are available, where you can best buy tennis rackets, tennis bags, tennis shoes, tennis clothes, etc. We could exchange information about tennis tournaments held for youngsters in Thailand. Then there might be people who want to exchange their ideas with fellow members about the many ATP, WTA and other world class tournaments around the world. I would certainly be a regular contributor! If you check you will note that I'm a TV member since almost Thaivisa Forum's inception. By the way the poll has finished with a score of over 56% yes. Reconsider?

Edited January 29, 2019 by Dario

[attrayant]

I recall last year there was broad general support for a science forum, but the answer was no to that.  If we can't have a science forum, I don't see why we should have a tennis forum.

[Crossy]

I'm going to lock this before it gets out of hand!