20 August 2025
TTF Ankara Tennis Training Center Opens with Tennis Festival
The TTF Ankara Tennis Training Center, built to
promote the sport of tennis and make it accessible to more people, has been
officially opened. The TTF Ankara Tennis Training Center, constructed in
Yenimahalle with international standards, was inaugurated with an "Opening
Ceremony and Tennis Festival" on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, and is now
open to sports enthusiasts.
The ceremony was attended by a large number of guests,
including Minister of Youth and Sports Dr. Osman Aşkın Bak, Deputy Minister of
Youth and Sports Assoc. Prof. Dr. Safa Koçoğlu, Director General of Sports
Services Prof. Dr. Veli Ozan Çakır, Turkish Tennis Federation President Şafak
Müderrisgil, Ankara Youth and Sports Provincial Director Mustafa Çelik, our
national athletes Ada Kumru, İrem Kurt, Su Mandacı, and TOHM athletes Artun
Polat, Ekin Selen Sever, Doruk Ege Şahin, along with many other athletes.
The TTF Ankara Tennis Training Center is the first of its kind in Türkiye, with the capacity to host tournaments on two different surfaces simultaneously. Its infrastructure includes 7 clay courts, 5 hard courts, and a center court with a seating capacity of 3,500 people. The facility, capable of hosting top-tier tennis organizations, symbolizes the beginning of a new era for Turkish tennis.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of
the Turkish Tennis Federation Ankara Tennis Training Center, Minister of Youth
and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak stated, "It is truly significant that
we are seeing exciting results in tennis recently. The performances of Zeynep
Sönmez in women's singles and Ahmet Kaplan in the quad category are gratifying.
Families in Ankara will bring their children here to learn and play tennis. We
believe that new successes will come for Turkish tennis."
Minister of Youth and Sports Dr.
Osman Aşkın Bak said that Türkiye, with its world-class facilities, is
progressing effectively and rapidly towards becoming a sports nation. In his
speech at the ceremony, which began with the reading of a congratulatory telegraph
from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Minister Bak thanked everyone who
contributed to the construction of the facilities, stating, "A sports
facility revolution is taking place in Türkiye. We are seeing that modern
stadiums, indoor sports halls, swimming pools, athletics tracks, tennis courts,
football pitches, and basketball courts are being built all over Türkiye for
all our youth and athletes to use. With stadiums that meet UEFA and FIFA
standards, basketball halls that meet FIBA standards, and volleyball halls that
meet FIVB and CEV standards, Türkiye is advancing effectively and rapidly on
the path to becoming a sports nation."
Minister Bak also expressed his
support for the project launched by Turkish Tennis Federation President Şafak
Müderrisgil with the slogan "Tennis for Everyone," saying, "With
Ms. Müderrisgil being elected as the federation president, a new era has truly
begun for Turkish tennis. We are giving her all kinds of support. We will all
experience the new excitement and enthusiasm with scholarship programs for
tennis, contributions from business people, and similarly, the renovation of
the Tennis Federation's facilities in Istanbul, and the opening of new courts.
We believe and see that new successes and new excitement will come to Turkish
tennis with the work, investments, influence, and efforts of our Federation,
and with our support."
“It is really important that we have
seen some exciting results in tennis recently.”
Expressing his satisfaction with the
performances of the Women's National Team in the Billie Jean King Cup, Zeynep
Sönmez in women's singles, and Ahmet Kaplan in the quad category, Minister Bak
continued his remarks as follows:
"It is truly significant that we
are seeing exciting results in tennis recently. We believe that new athletes
will emerge from here. I also believe that with this facility, families in
Ankara will bring their children here to learn and play tennis. We will hear
the sounds of rackets, cheers, and feel your excitement during very enjoyable
tournaments and matches."
Minister Bak also mentioned the 4th
Cudi Cup tennis tournament in Şırnak, saying, "As our President has
stated, within the framework of his 'Türkiye without Terror' project, which he
calls his biggest project, we are now hearing the sound of rackets, not
rockets, on Mount Cudi. There are nearly 5,000 licensed tennis players in
Şırnak. Therefore, the increase in these numbers is very important. We believe
in the healing and unifying power of sports. We want to express that sports are
crucial for social reconciliation, unity, and the continuation of common
processes."
A New Era in Turkish Tennis Facility
Development
TTF President Şafak Müderrisgil, in
her speech, made the following statements:
“Today, we are experiencing a
historic day for Turkish tennis. With the valuable support of our Ministry of
Youth and Sports, we, as the Turkish Tennis Federation, are taking a major step
that aims to reach every segment of society, not just our elite athletes. This
center, beyond being a structure that will build the future of our sport and
offer our youth the opportunity to realize their dreams, will be a hub where
Turkish tennis forges stronger ties with the community.
Here, our youth will not only train;
they will also represent Türkiye in the best way possible in world tennis by
competing in national and international tournaments. However, what is at least
as important to us is for our children, youth, and families to connect with
tennis, for our sport to become widespread, and for tennis to become a beloved
sport by broader audiences.
This is not just a sports facility;
it will be the base of Turkish tennis, a school that will raise future
champions, and a center that will bring tennis to every individual in our
society. With this facility, which will be alive 24/7, we have opened the doors
to a strong path towards the future of Turkish tennis. I would like to thank
everyone who contributed to the realization of this work.”
Following the speeches, Şafak
Müderrisgil presented Minister Dr. Osman Aşkın Bak with a jersey bearing his
name and a racket. Afterward, Minister Bak toured the tennis courts with the
children and hit a ceremonial serve.
20 August 2025
