Tennis should be top of our sports priority list

It is unfortunate that none of the Thai tennis players have managed to make it to the latter rounds of the ongoing French Open tournament this year. 

Danai Udomchoke and Noppawan Lertcheewakarn were eliminated in the qualifying rounds.

Our tennis players have traditionally performed poorly on clay courts due to the lack of such facilities at home. It seems that some just can’t overcome the challenge of playing on the red dirt.

But, aside from the poor performances in Paris, Thai players in general have done poorly internationally this year. It’s unfortunate that the country has failed to maintain momentum and create top-class tennis players to follow in the footsteps of such recent stars as Paradorn Srichaphan and Tamarine Tanasugarn. After all, it was only around five years ago that they were competing at the highest level, against the world’s best. This previous success in the world’s top tournaments should have inspired the next generation – it should have been proof that they too have a fair chance to meet the physical challenges. 

Of course, the poor performances by Thai players at the French Open is partly due to their unfamiliarity with clay courts. But overall this year they have not done well on hard courts, either. Some critics attribute these less-than-impressive showings to the fact that our best players have been around for years and are simply past their prime.

The absence of any Thais in the French Open junior tournament shows that we’ve failed to produce a new generation of international-quality players. The Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand (LTAT) should have done more, in a systematic manner, to promote the sport.

LTAT chief Suwat Liptapanlop has brought big tournaments to Thailand, and these are popular with both players and fans. But other activities, such as bringing foreign players to Thailand for promotional events, are little more than publicity stunts, and it’s questionable whether these high-profile stars are helping to upgrade the quality of Thai tennis players.

Tamarine, Paradorn and Danai have brought joy and inspiration to Thai fans, but the LTAT now needs to focus on developing the next generation of players to continue the momentum those local heroes began. Only with greater official support can we see another generation of Thai athletes in the international arena, not only in tennis but other sports as well.

This will take time, but the LTAT should begin by working with talented players at the earliest possible age. It starts with being able to identify promising young players. Then, courts and coaches and other support facilities should be provided with the aim of making tennis accessible to all kids, including those with financial challenges. A tennis academy should be promoted to encourage children to develop their skills in this sport.

Sport helps children develop by instilling a sense of discipline and hard work, and should be encouraged at every opportunity. Tennis, perhaps, should receive special attention, because Thailand has already seen a number of its players succeed at the international level. It would be a wasted opportunity not to capitalise on the momentum that’s been established.