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What an incredible experience for 32 women from the Princess Nourah bin Abdulrahman University in Riyadh. As part of the Diriyah Tennis Cup presented by Aramco, which will get underway with the draw on Wednesday, the women got the chance to experience an exclusive training session with Judy Murray, former world number one Mats Wilander from Sweden, his compatriot Thomas Johansson and Barbara Schett-Eagle. Some of the women picked up a tennis racket for the very first time and received a gentle introduction to the sport from these four tennis legends.
“At the sessions we had a real mix of complete beginners who want to learn the game, some people who have been playing for years and wish to improve, and also teachers and coaches looking for content to deliver to young people”, said Judy Murray, one of the most popular tennis coaches worldwide. “I have worked in tennis for over 30 years and for the last twelve years I have really focused on encouraging women and girls. Not just to play tennis but to get involved in delivering tennis. We don’t have enough female coaches in tennis worldwide, so actually to be able to come here against the backdrop of the Diriyah Tennis Cup, which is a men’s event, and have a whole women’s program going on in the community around it, is very, very important”, Murray added. She underscored how glad she was to hold these training sessions: “As a role model – hopefully – and a female coach, I like to go out and share all the content I have created over the years. I’m so passionate about getting more women and girls involved, so this is a lovely opportunity for me to come to Riyadh and do that.”
Mats Wilander, the former World No.1 from Sweden, said: “The people here are very into sports. To try out playing tennis with the women here was wonderful. Judy Murray put together a wonderful program. It’s important to bring the sport to the women of Saudi Arabia, and to people in general. Everybody has a chance to try out in sports, to see how it feels for them.”
Barbara Schett-Eagle was equally impressed: “Today I had a fantastic day with lots of women who were playing tennis for the first time. I love tennis. It’s my great passion. And everyone who took part today could make a shot by the end of the session. Some never hold a racket before. It was great, there were lots of smiles at the end.”
The President of the Saudi Tennis Federation, Mrs. Arij Almutabagani, has high hopes that tennis will grow in the Kingdom in the coming years: “There is a strong possibility of finding some talented young players. We are really starting at the grass roots, at the beginning, but we have to start somewhere. Judy Murray is a great inspiration. I think this program with her can act as a springboard and I hope we can work with her again in the future.”
