Narva-Jõesuu to open racket sports centre next summer

Narva-Jõesuu is building its first tennis courts in decades, with a racket sports centre featuring four tennis courts and two padel courts due to open next summer. The project was initiated by Narva-Jõesuu Tennis Club and is being funded largely by the European Union, ERR reports.

The centre, being built near the seashore, will serve local residents and visitors and is also intended to help revitalise the town centre. The courts could host training camps for Kadriorg Tennis Club, whose head, Erki Jaanson, also sits on the board of Narva-Jõesuu Tennis Club.

Jaanson said the project had taken more than a decade to bring to construction. The €1.2 million cost reflects the need for at least four tennis courts to allow proper training and competitions. Construction work has already begun.

Narva-Jõesuu has a long tennis history. Its first tennis club was founded by summer visitors from St Petersburg 117 years ago, and the resort town had six courts before the Second World War. The last court fell into disuse and became overgrown towards the end of the last century.

Jaanson said he welcomed the growth of padel alongside tennis, adding that some players move from padel to tennis. The new centre will also have space for additional courts if demand grows.