Özgür Ergüden, 46 years old, former tennis player, patron of Megasaray Tennis Academy, told how many Romanians come to train and play in tournaments in Antalya, periodically, and what are the facilities offered by the Turks
Three sports are in power in Antalya, where Romanian football teams have been moving, year after year, for decades. Apart from the king sport, golf attracts its fans in Belek, where there are internationally recognized courts, but also tennis.
Regarding tennis, many Romanian athletes, especially those at the beginning of the journey, are looking assiduously to come to training in Turkish territory and to participate in tournaments for various ages. Top training conditions and, extremely importantly, unbeatable prices for an expensive sport to practice.
Özgür Ergüden on tennis in Antalya: how many courts are there and what facilities
We crossed the threshold of Megasaray, where there is one of the oldest academies here, which, for several years, has an academy located among the football fields on which the Romanian teams play. It's not that many tennis players, of both sexes, come from all over Romania to train and participate in the weekly tournaments in Belek.
The former tennis player, Özgür Ergüden, 46 years old, is the patron of the Megasaray Tennis Academy and, at the same time, the organizer of numerous competitions.
“When I started this business, many years ago, I was a tennis player and played such tournaments in all kinds of resorts. There were not so many tournaments and not so many hotels. Then, gradually, more courts were made, investment was made, and an academy was built in Megasaray.
It is the heart of tennis in Turkey and is known internationally. We have 32 tennis courts only at the academy, four “hard”, and here, at the resort, 23 courts, clay, grass, plus some padel.
There are also many Romanians who come here. I have friends who are coaches, players. We always have Romanian players, of all ages. It is also direct line by air. It's not expensive and the conditions are top notch. We have the lowest level of professional tennis in years almost every week.
We also have facilities in Kayseri, in the mountains, with 12 pitches. We are moving the tournament there during the summer when it is very hot in Belek”, said Özgür Ergüden for GSP.ro.
Prices starting from 75 euros/person per day: “Everything is all inclusive, they can train as many hours as they want”
“My coach was Adrian Viziru, whom I salute. He also lived in Turkey. I still have many Romanian friends, who either live here or we come into contact for tournaments. I would approximate 20-25 Romanians who come weekly and practice tennis with us. I stay here for a long period, three months. I find everything here.
At reasonable prices, 75 euros/person in a double room, all inclusive, five stars. From accommodation, food, top training grounds, training conditions. They don't have to pay anything else. They can prepare as many hours a day as they need.
I have been to Romania several times, a beautiful country that has developed a lot. My first visit to Romania was not very happy, when I was very young, with my family (laughs). It doesn't matter anymore… Romania wasn't in the European Union back then, it's been a long time since then. The last time I was in 2019, a very beautiful country,” Özgür Ergüden also declared.
Ilie Năstase is a legend in the world, we all know him. The younger generation plays here at Megasaray. I keep in touch with Daniel Dobre, he comes with the juniors here
Özgür Ergüden
