18 March 2025
Megasaray Hotels Open Launched with Press Conference
A press conference was held to launch the WTA tournament Megasaray Hotels Open, which will welcome leading names in women’s tennis from 18 March to 6 April at the Megasaray Tennis Academy in Antalya.
The event took place at Megasaray Club Belek and was attended by President of the Turkish Tennis Federation Şafak Müderrisgil, Branch Director, Antalya Provincial Directorate of Youth and Sports Süleyman Gediz, Chairman of Şahinler Holding Kemal Şahin, and national tennis players Çağla Büyükakçay and Ada Kumru.
"It is a great source of pride for us to see more Turkish players participating in such prestigious tournaments each year."
President of the Turkish Tennis Federation Şafak Müderrisgil stated that the WTA 125 tournaments, organized by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) since 2012, are a series of international events that host professional women’s tennis players. She remarked, “The presence of this tournament series in our country holds great significance for Turkish tennis. This highly valuable WTA 125-level event, organized over three consecutive weeks, not only brings top-ranked athletes to our country’s facilities, but also contributes to the development of Turkish tennis by offering a significant opportunity to our players. Throughout the tournament, world-ranked players such as Emiliana Arango, Diane Parry, Olga Danilovic, Anna Bondar, and Bianca Andreescu will be competing. Representing Türkiye, prominent players like Çağla Büyükakçay, İpek Öz, Ayla Aksu, Deniz Dilek, Ada Kumru, and İrem Kurt will also take part. Events like these play a vital role in increasing the international recognition of Turkish tennis and in discovering new talents. It fills us with great pride to see more Turkish players included in such prestigious tournaments each year.”
President Müderrisgil also underlined that while the Turkish Tennis Federation continues to invest in infrastructure development, it simultaneously works to elevate Turkish tennis to a global level by hosting international tournaments and creating more opportunities for Turkish players on the world stage.
“In 2024, international tennis tournaments held in our country generated a direct foreign currency inflow of 14.872 million Euros and an indirect economic impact of 40 million Euros.”
Highlighting Antalya as a key destination for both national and international tennis events, Müderrisgil stated: “With its mild winter climate, travel convenience, and sports facilities, Antalya has become an attractive center not only for team sports but also for individual sports in recent years. With the support and investments of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the number of tennis courts in our country continues to grow. Antalya, with approximately 500 courts, draws tennis players from around the world and hosts a large number of international tournaments every year. This has made the city a true ‘Tennis Capital’ while also contributing significantly to our economy through tennis tourism. In 2024 alone, through international tournaments organized in Türkiye, we achieved a direct foreign currency inflow of 14.87 million Euros and an indirect impact of 40 million Euros. Athletes, coaches, and families who visit for these events leave Türkiye highly satisfied, while the umbrella tennis organization that sanction and accredit these tournaments are also very pleased with the cooperation and the role Türkiye plays in the tennis world. Megasaray is one of our key partners in our efforts to position Turkish tennis as an active player on the global stage. I would like to thank Mr. Kemal Şahin, Chairman of the Board of Şahinler Holding, and his management team for their valuable contributions to tennis. The events held here provide great opportunities for our young talents. Facing world-class players significantly contributes to their growth. These tournaments not only elevate Turkish tennis globally but also allow tennis fans to witness top-level action up close. As this tennis festival continues through April 6, I would like to my gratitude to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Şahinler Holding, Megasaray Tennis Academy, and the tournament team, and I wish all participating players the best of luck.”
“A first in Türkiye: WTA 125 tournaments to be played consecutively over three weeks in Antalya”
Kemal Şahin, Chairman of Şahinler Holding, emphasized that the prestigious WTA 125 Series tournaments will, for the first time in Türkiye, be played back-to-back over three weeks. “Fifty female athletes from 26 countries are participating in this major tournament, where a total prize of $345,000 will be distributed under the sponsorship of Megasaray Hotels. Megasaray Tennis Academy (MTA) will host these high-prize tournaments, which mark a historic milestone for our country. The event will welcome star players from the world of tennis. This major international organization is expected to bring fresh momentum to Turkish tennis, as prominent names and rising stars of global tennis make history in Türkiye.
Şahin further noted the importance of WTA 125 tournaments in helping young talents climb the WTA rankings: “Having these events held in our country means lower costs and increased participation for our players. It also increases their chances of receiving Wild Cards and gaining valuable ranking points. Hosting world-class players in Türkiye for three consecutive weeks is a major opportunity for promoting tennis tourism. Antalya’s climate and world-class facilities make Türkiye an attractive destination. Türkiye and Antalya are now recognized tennis brands globally. These tournaments also bring in high-spending international sports tourists. So far, Megasaray has hosted nearly 400 major international tournaments such as ITF, Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup, ITF Wheelchair, and ATP events, welcoming nearly 30,000 players from all around the world. Contributing to Türkiye’s sports infrastructure, Megasaray Tennis Academy (MTA) offers an ideal environment for both professional athletes and young talents with its modern facilities, 72 high-standard courts, and athlete-focused services. MTA is strengthening its position further through this WTA 125 series. The tournament, which cost Megasaray a total of 500,000 USD, holds great significance both for the athletes and for our country. As a institution that is deeply passionate about Türkiye and tennis, we built this structure with a vision of making Antalya a global tennis brand and promoting tennis throughout Türkiye. We are fully mobilized to enhance global recognition of our country and the success of our players. We will continue our strong cooperation with the federation to advance the sport and increase its international visibility.”
“Federations and the private sector must work in harmony”
Mr. Süleyman Gediz, Branch Director at the Antalya Provincial Directorate of Youth and Sports, emphasized the importance of private sector investment in Turkish sports:
“Antalya is a leading city in the field of sports. Federations and the private sector must work in harmony. There are great strides to be made both in terms of athletic success and sports tourism. I wish all Turkish players success in this tournament.”
“This tournament is extremely valuable for Turkish players”
National tennis player Çağla Büyükakçay expressed her gratitude to Megasaray for consistently building on its efforts and providing major opportunities for athletes this year:
“Hosting three WTA 125 tournaments during a time when we need it the most is incredibly valuable. Thank you to the Megasaray family for making this happen and for offering main draw opportunities to national team players. This tennis initiative in Antalya is making waves around the world. The increase in the number of Turkish players is very important to us. The scholarships offered by the academy to our players are also very meaningful. Having been part of this community for many years, I truly appreciate the sustainability of such support. Megasaray has been a consistent supporter over the years. I’m happy to be healthy and able to compete, I'll be playing a match today and hope it goes well. As national team players, we’re all here, training and competing like a family. From here, we’ll head to Lithuania.”
“I’ve been training at Megasaray on scholarship for five years”
National tennis player Ada Kumru, who is also competing in the tournament, expressed her thanks to the Turkish Tennis Federation and Megasaray “Being able to compete in such a prestigious tournament and train alongside world-class athletes is incredibly valuable for us. I’ve been training at Megasaray on a scholarship for five years. I’ll be competing in both singles and doubles tomorrow, and I’m hoping for a good result.
18 March 2025
