TENNIS FIJI IN THE MEDIA
Our media database includes the latest news footage and archives of articles written about Tennis Fiji in national and international news sources. Scroll through some of the featured articles below and learn more about our efforts to promote safe and healthy tennis development.
TENNIS FIJI EXPECTS NO SLIP-UPS
Tennis Fiji won’t be dropping the ball as sports open up for full contact trainings and competitions.
The federation doesn’t expect any hiccups because tennis by nature is a non-contact sport.
TF Project Officer Julia Gorman says the federation still won’t be taking any risks that might see the sport caught in a net. Now that Fiji has achieved 80% full vaccination rate, the federation has allowed practice for both singles and doubles as well as private and group lessons. Read the article here.
‘NEW’ SPORTS BUBBLE?
24 June 2020
The Fiji National Sports Commission executives are exploring avenues of establishing a sporting circuit which involves Fiji and New Zealand. This was revealed yesterday by Commission chairman, Peter Mazey, who also confirmed that Fiji would not be hosting a Super Rugby game, this year. Speaking to SUNsports, Mazey who is also the Fiji Sports Council executive chair, said discussions are on the way to have New Zealand provincial teams and clubs playing against their Fijian counterparts. Meanwhile, yesterday 11 sporting bodies received their Safe Sports Fiji accreditation from the Commission. The sports are rugby, tennis, squash, bowls, karate, gymnastic, football, yachting, cycling Fiji, cricket, bowling and Aussie rules. Read the full article in the Fiji Sun.
BREEN ANTICIPATES FULL CALENDAR OF TENNIS EVENTS NEXT YEAR
3 June 2020
Tennis Fiji expects a full calendar of events with the staging of local and international tournaments next year. This year’s season has been disrupted because of the COVID-19 pandemic which has seen the cancellation of majority of the local tournaments including the prestigious Fiji Open Championship which was supposed to be played in Nadi last weekend. The Fiji Open Championship which was first played in Suva in 1907 is seen as a major revenue earner for Tennis Fiji. In the past two decades, the tournament has grown in great proportions attracting more than 100 overseas players with the revenue earned from the tournament channelled into Tennis Fiji’s development program. Read the full article in the Fiji Times here.
TENNIS BODY STARTS POST PANDEMIC PREPARATIONS
28 May 2020
The opening of playing venues is a major obstacle that sports such tennis face as restrictions on sporting activities are slowly being relaxed in the country. Tennis, volleyball, squash, bowls, badminton and golf are the six non-contact sports on which restrictions have been lifted however strict social distancing guidelines have to be followed. Tennis Fiji president Richard Breen said some of the playing facilities were situated at social clubs which remained closed. “It is a challenging period for all sports and we are waiting to see which sports clubs open up,” Breen said. “When they do open up then we want the players to follow the rules in place in regards to the social distancing and hygiene. “That will have to be monitored by the individuals by considering things themselves.” The 2020 International Tennis Federation Nations Cup Pacific scheduled to be held in Samoa from October 26-31 is one of the major international events on the Tennis Fiji calendar. Read the article in the Fiji Times here.
TENNIS PLAYERS TO TRAIN UNDER STRICT CONDITIONS
21 May 2020
Tennis players have returned to the courts after Government lifted restrictions of non-contact sports. Tennis Fiji president, Richard Breen said yesterday players would be training under strict safety measures. “Players have returned to training with restrictions and conditions,” he said. “We have no local tournaments or outreach programmes planned in the immediate future. These will not be considered until the restrictions are removed. “We hope to have tournaments in August or September, but it depends on Government approval to be able to do this. So at the moment it is just individual play as a way to start tennis in some form again.” Read the full article in the Fiji Sun here.
TENNIS FIJI LOOKS TO KICK OFF WITH SINGLES COMPETITIONS
18 May 2020
Following the announcement of restrictions being eased on non-contact sports, Tennis Fiji is delighted to get the sport back up and running. While major competitions and tournaments are still restricted, Tennis Fiji is looking to take small steps by getting players back in the court. With this, Tennis Fiji President Richard Breen warns safety measures will still need to be followed. Click here to read the article in FBC News.
TENNIS FIJI CALLS OFF BIGGEST EVENT
23 March 2020
Tennis Fiji has called off its 2020 Fiji Open Tennis Championship which was scheduled for the 26th of May in Denarau, Nadi. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions put in place by the Fijian government, the federation has also suspended all its planned activities. President Richard Breen says it is unfortunate for their biggest event to be cancelled but strict measures must be taken to prevent the spread of the virus. Read the article and listen to a statement from Tennis Fiji's President here.
TENNIS BATTLE
6 December 2019
The second Ultimate Fiji Tennis Cup tournament will serve as a learning experience for the selected junior players in the country against their Australian counterparts. The tournament will start today and run until Monday with matches being played at the various courts in Nadi, Denarau Island and Lautoka. A total of ten Fijian players will pit their skills against five Australians who are aged between 10-14 years of age. Ultimate Fiji Tennis Cup director Bruce Tilt said they were excited to help Tennis Fiji in the development of the sport here. Read the full article in the Fiji Times here.
TENNIS FIJI CONDUCTS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
27 November 2019
TENNIS Fiji is taking advantage of the school holidays, reaching out to more rural areas as part of their development program. A group of officials were at the Nuku District School earlier today organizing activities and Tennis skills lessons for the young children of Naselai Village and neighbouring areas. Tennis Fiji development officer Lemeki Veimateyaki said tennis in the central division was not as popular so as part of their development program, the team had decided to take it out in the villages around the central division. Read the article in the Fiji Times here.
INSIDE THE ITF PACIFIC OCEANIA TRAINING CENTRE
19 March 2019
The ITF Pacific Oceania Training Centre in Lautoka, Fiji is an important part of the ITF's strategy for developing the game in the Pacific." My dream is to become a famous tennis player," 12-year-old Roselyn Tupuola says with just the hint of smile on her face. She is one of nine players at the centre, who combine training with studying as they look to maximise their chances of "making it" as one of the game's future stars. But, knowing that only a handful will ever be talented and fortunate enough to reach the summit of the tennis mountain, it's important to achieve a good balance between sport and school. Read the full article on the ITF's website here
TENNIS STAR VISITIS LAUTOKA
6 June 2018
AUSTRALIAN Davis Cup representative Sam Groth who holds the record for the fastest serve in world tennis is no stranger to Fiji. Groth first visited the country as a 13 year-old and spent a week and a half at the Regional Tennis Centre in Lautoka. He participated in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) sanctioned junior competitions held in the country en route to becoming one of Australia’s top professional players. “I haven’t been back here for the past 13 years so it is like a blast from the past for me coming back,” Groth said. The 30-year-old gave the thumbs up for the inaugural OTF Nations Cup Pacific saying it was a great initiative for the players to be representing their nation in a team event. Read the full article in the Fiji Times here.
FIJI FIRING FOR FRENZIED SPORTING SCHEDULE
13 February 2018
With Commonwealth Games preparations ramping up, a new Australian Rules Football team being created in the west of the country and Australian aid's Pacific Sports Partnerships' sports for development programs is kicking off for the new year, Fijian sport is in a frenzy. ABC's Aaron Kearney has captured this taste of the action across Viti Levu. Click here to view all the programs.
GUARDIANS OF THE GAME: FIJI'S UNLIKELY DOUBLES TEAM
29 June 2017
Two security guards who spent half a decade watching tennis before daring to pick up a racquet are now in charge of making sure the next generation of Fijians never have to wait to hit a ball. For five years, they watched over and protected Fiji's most precious tennis courts and not once did they pick up a racquet or hit a single ball. Click here to read the full article in ABC News.
11 October 2021