On Saturday, May 23, officials open the National Tennis Center in the “German Village” district. The event marks a historic moment for sports infrastructure in the Republic of Moldova and introduces 13 international-standard tennis courts: six indoor hard courts and seven outdoor clay courts. The complex will host international tournaments and train athletes and children who want to pursue performance tennis.
High-ranking Moldovan officials, representatives of international tennis organizations, and top athletes attend the inauguration event. Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu, International Tennis Federation Executive Director Ross Hutchins, Tennis Europe President Henrik Thorsøe Pedersen, and tennis legends Simona Halep and Juan Martín del Potro join the official ceremony and cut the inaugural ribbon.
The highlight of the day comes during the exhibition match on the clay court. The team of Simona Halep and Radu Albot defeats the pair of Juan Martín del Potro and Lia Belibova.
Ceslav Ciuhrii, the creator and developer of the National Tennis Center, says he wants the Republic of Moldova to have one of the most advanced tennis centers in Eastern Europe.
“I am convinced that this National Tennis Center will not only be a place where people play tennis, but also a space where champions are born, where young people develop character and prepare for life. I want this center to become a launching pad for future generations of Moldovan champions. I also want to thank the great players who came to Chișinău. Their presence will strongly motivate our young tennis players because they will see with their own eyes that everything is possible,” Ciuhrii states.
Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu also describes the opening of the National Tennis Center as an important moment for the Republic of Moldova.
“It sends a clear signal that Moldovan sports can and must grow at home through modern infrastructure and real conditions for performance athletes,” the prime minister emphasizes.
Simona Halep says she is impressed by the conditions offered by the new sports complex.
“You have everything you need here to develop performance tennis. I am sure these facilities and this project will encourage many children to start playing tennis and later prepare for high-level competition,” Halep said.
Juan Martín del Potro also praises the tennis complex and the atmosphere in the Republic of Moldova.
“I had never visited the Republic of Moldova or this region before. I am excited to see the tennis complex. Moldova is a beautiful country, as I have already seen since arriving,” del Potro says.
Meanwhile, Radu Albot, Moldova’s top tennis player, highlights the importance of investing in sports infrastructure and the impact the center could have on future generations of athletes.
“I would like to thank Mr. Ceslav Ciuhrii for doing something incredible for this sport, the sport to which I dedicated my entire life. I hope that in the future we will have many Moldovan tennis players competing in Grand Slam tournaments and achieving even better results than mine, so that tennis becomes increasingly popular in the country,” Albot says.
Young Moldovan tennis prospect Lia Belibova admits that this is her first experience playing alongside legends such as Simona Halep and Juan Martín del Potro.
“It means a lot to me. I think it is extraordinary to share the court with such champions and, hopefully, one day reach the same level myself. Thank you very much,” Belibova says.
The National Tennis Center, located in the “German Village” district, also includes a relaxation lounge, café and coworking area, sports equipment store, conference hall, and private parking. Experts consider it one of the region’s most important tennis facilities and expect it to become a landmark venue for training future generations of Moldovan tennis players and hosting international tennis competitions. The Moldova Open tournament begins the day after the inauguration, on Sunday.