PANAJI
A passion for tennis is permeating Goa’s consciousness, with several players across age groups and skill levels rigorously training in the sport and playing in professional state and national tournaments organised in the state.
Elevating the sport are several proponents who have opened coaching academies across the state, nurturing the next generation of tennis stars while simultaneously making the sport recreational for older players, promoting fitness and wellbeing.
Nishad Shevde, founder and coach at S.S Tennis Academy based in Margao, who also has several tennis awards to his name, has been imparting tennis skills to students ranging from four to 75 years, for the past four years.
“Established by my father Subodh Shevde at B.P.S Sports Club in Margao, I have expanded the S.S Tennis Academy to Beleza by the Beach resort in Colva and courts in Fatorda, with plans to take it to several places, especially schools, to ensure widespread accessibility to tennis and get more kids interested in the sport. When more children start playing tennis all across Goa, we will be considered one of the top tennis destinations in India,” said Shevde.
Professional tennis tournaments in Goa, such as the Baale BPS Open 2025, the recently concluded All India Gadre Gaspar Dias Open 2025 and the upcoming All Goa Bandodkar Panjim Gymkhana Open Tennis Tournament 2025, have also cemented tennis’ popularity in the state, according to coach Deepak Nahak, founder of Sportz Goa Tennis Academy and tournament director of Gadre Gaspar Dias Open, the latter of which recently celebrated its 10th edition.
“We have seen some of the most enthusiastic tennis players support the game by sponsoring these tournaments, making the sport more popular. The competitive nature of the tourneys has challenged budding players to compete and take up tennis professionally. Furthermore, with the All India Tennis Association (AITA) conducting its coaches certification programme this year, the increase in certified coaches will yield better results from tennis academies across the state,” said Nahak.
Nahak also highlighted the increased participation of players in the junior categories, which is, according to him, the ideal age bracket to hone to shape the future of professional tennis in Goa. Coach Suresh Kadam, who trains tennis students at B.P.S Sports Club, Margao, concurs with this sentiment.
“At B.P.S Sports Club, Margao, we have a programme called ‘Tennis Munchkins’, introduced by popular demand for children between the ages of three and six years. I believe that basic development in tennis must begin at the grassroots level, with school-level tournaments in both public and private institutions encouraging the competitive spirit to flourish,” expressed Kadam.
There are still ways to go when it comes to ensuring that the pursuit of professional tennis becomes streamlined in the state. According to former India tennis player Natasha Palha Soares who also runs a tennis coaching academy Squad Tennis at Taj Cidade de Goa Resort, Dona Paula, “we need bigger facilities that have three or more tennis courts in the state”.
“I think we still do not have enough tennis tournaments being organised, as there are only three at the beginning of the year. We need a tournament at least every two months – so, at least six a year. The existing tournaments are great, but can be spread out to accommodate matches for the junior categories in one week and the seniors in the next to allow for the fewer courts available,” said Palha Soares.
With the future of tennis in Goa in the very capable hands, the state is sure to see more follow in the footsteps of Palha Soares and rake in laurels for Goa in the near future.
