THE Philippine Sports Commission expressed that it is now ready to host the WTA 125 Philippine Women’s Open at the refurbished Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
PSC Chair Patrick Gregorio on Thursday bared that renovations at the venue is near completion and will be ready just in time for the start of the event on Saturday.
Even after the renovations, Gregorio said the PSC is determined to turn Rizal Memorial Tennis Center into a major venue following the rise to stardom of Alex Eala, who will now be competing in the Philippine event after her early exit from the Australian Open.
“It excites me,” said Gregorio about the upcoming WTA event. “We are in talks with PHILTA, with secretary-general John Rey Tiangco because we are very open to really transform this again as a premier tennis facility in the country.”
“Wala na eh, craze na, Alex Eala craze is all over the world. Dapat lang gawin na natin siyang positive image of our country. And she truly deserves that.”
Meanwhile, the adjacent Rizal Memorial Coliseum, which used to be a tennis court during its early days, will serve as a fan zone where spectators will have an opportunity to do other activities aside from watching the matches.
Rizal Memorial Complex renovation
It is not only the tennis center that is being overhauled, as Gregorio said the entire Rizal Memorial Sports Complex is actually undergoing a major facelift not only for the athletes, but also for the fans that will be witnessing events at the venue.
Recently, the PSC completed construction of a new media center located at the administration office.
Gregorio said a taekwondo venue will also stand at the former site of the bowling center near the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, while the baseball stadium will also be renovated.
“Dito sa Rizal, hindi lang naman pang-atleta ‘yan, para sa taumbayan ‘yan,” he said during a tour of the facilities.
“This will be a new Rizal in 2026,” he stated, while also adding that the Department of Public Works and Highways and the City of Manila were also major players in the renovation of the facilities inside the historic sports complex.
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