Tennis star Rafael Nadal is bringing his renowned training to Asia for the first time this summer. The Rafa Nadal Tennis Center's (RNTC) second outpost outside of the star's Mallorca, Spain home will be hosted in the Hong Kong Golf & Tennis Academy (HKGTA).
While the Rafa Nadal Academy in the star's hometown has a curriculum that spans both sports and academics, this new partnership between RNTC and HKGTA focuses on bringing top-notch tennis training to the city.
A part of the New World Development Company Limited, HKGTA already offers PGA of America Learning & Performance at its 820,000 sq ft sports megacomplex located in the city's scenic Sai Kung. The RNTC will strengthen the tennis training arm of the academy starting July 1.
CEO of New World Adrian Cheng says the academy will now be equipped with what's required to nurture the next generation of tennis stars. "We have so much talent locally, and it is wonderful to help bring such a prestigious institution to Hong Kong and give our potential next-generation tennis champions the world-class training they need to succeed."
The programme will allow rising stars to gain access to the same professional training methods that catapulted Nadal himself to the top of the game. The programme balances training both on and off-court to help teach structure while maximising players' strengths.
Coaches from the Mallorca campus will make their way to Hong Kong this summer as the first season of training kicks off.
Nadal himself has high hopes for bringing the programme that cemented his own success to Aisa. "Since the opening of the Academy in Mallorca five years ago, we have always found it very interesting to expand our methodology to more countries to reach as many people as possible."
And as Nadal says, it doesn't hurt that HKGTA has some of the best facilities in Asia; aside from tennis and golf courses, the campus has several wellness facilities for massages and sports treatments, as well as accommodations for those taking up extended training.
As part of this partnership, The HKGTA Foundation will offer one male and one female a sponsorship to train at an elite level with the possibility of future training in Mallorca.
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