Tennis studio AVARI offers practice simulations
WITH FILIPINO tennis enthusiasts now growing in number, inspired by the rise of professional tennis player Alex Eala, there’s a place where they meet like-minded people and play — but not on a court. The place is the AVARI Tennis Studio, which offers the very first tennis simulation in the country.
“To be honest, we’re not trying to replace a tennis court. We believe that we’re just supplementary training for actual tennis,” said Anton Leonardo Bernal, a tennis enthusiast of five years and a managing partner at AVARI.
Using technology from South Korea, the simulations at their studio are designed to “cater to all levels and transform how players experience, learn, and engage with tennis.”
Located on the 5th floor of The Podium in Ortigas, the studio features three indoor simulator bays. Each is equipped with advanced motion sensors, augmented reality visuals, and real-time data tracking.
BusinessWorld was able to give it a try on preview day on July 1, but just in beginner mode practicing only the backhand swing. Members of various media outlets and VIP guests got to try out the simulator, which offers beginner, intermediate, and advanced modes as well as different speeds and areas for balls to be launched, be it for backhand, forehand, or a combination of swings.
Unlike the usual ball machines that throw out balls with no feedback, AVARI’s simulators provide stats on the screen, such as your average speed, maximum speed, number of balls in and out, time taken, and a variety of data useful for training. There are also game modes for those who want to practice in a more fun way, where you get to target at monsters or barrels.
“These machines are popular in South Korea,” Mr. Bernal said. “In Japan, they have like five locations. In Indonesia, they have four. And here in Manila and in Kuala Lumpur, they have one each. It’s a new concept that’s growing.”
He added that, as a “luxury tennis space with a target market of beginners,” they had to prioritize having coaches to help customers that sign up for sessions.
“They are all trained by Coach Roland [Kraut], who was the former head coach of the Davis Cup team of the Philippines and is currently the head coach of the DLSU (De La Salle University) varsity team,” he said. “With the simulator and with a good coach, they can see their progression from beginner to intermediate or even advanced.”
FIRST IN THE COUNTRY
Now in its soft opening, the AVARI Tennis Studio is accepting bookings through its Instagram page for now, with a website and app in the works.
Pointing out that fitness is a growing trend, and that Pilates and yoga studios in the Ortigas area cost around P900 to P2,000 per solo session, he explained their own pricing strategy. “We want our pricing to be competitive with that. Here, P1,500 will get you a solo session, but what we recommend is to bring a friend and split the one hour, because if you’re just by yourself, it’s going to be so tiring,” he said. “The ideal situation is 10 minutes with your friend, then 10 minutes with you. Alternate; take a break, so on.”
Some of the more seasoned tennis players on preview day commented that seeing the percentage of shots that went in was helpful, as it could motivate you to work towards a goal for the next practice to get more in for consistency.
“It’s up to you on how you want to customize your session. If you want to just have fun and whack some balls, like, you don’t care about the form, sure, go ahead,” Mr. Bernal added. “But, the idea is, if your goal is really to learn tennis, we strongly recommend that you get one of our coaches.”
AVARI’s tennis director Roland Kraut told BusinessWorld that places like this are good for the tennis community in the Philippines, because it doesn’t require a membership in a club, a match with an opponent, or a schedule with a coach.
“This is the first tennis simulator in the country where you can see the speed of the ball and count your errors,” he said. “Tennis players can train on the court for interactive play. This is really for technical practice. It’s good to pair it up with training on the court.”
He explained that because the machine is automated, the balls don’t land on random spots. The repetition of swings plus the data offered afterwards is perfect for those who want to focus on perfecting their form and technique.
As a longtime coach and tennis player, Mr. Kraut said that AVARI’s arrival is a case of good timing, what with Alex Eala’s popularity and the overall fitness craze.
“The success of tennis now, even with pickleball and paddle, all benefits tennis. It’s good for all these racket sports to co-exist with each other,” he said. “And Alex inspiring many Filipinos has really led to a rising interest in tennis.”
Mr. Bernal noted that their attached cafe will also be a venue for watch parties of important tennis events like Wimbledon.
“Even if you’re not going to play, we’re hoping like-minded tennis enthusiasts gather here and socialize with other people,” he said. “We’re planning to have trivia nights, too.”
The AVARI Tennis Studio is located on the 5th floor of The Podium mall in Ortigas, Mandaluyong City. A solo session is priced at P1,500 an hour without a coach and P2,250 an hour with a coach (for one to two persons). For more information, visit their Facebook or Instagram pages at @avari.tennis. — Brontë H. Lacsamana
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