Resort hotels court tennis buffs

Press, 10 August 1982, Page 28

Resort hotels court tennis buffs

Anyone for tennis? Many holidaymakers are, and Fijian resorts have responded quickly to the growing popularity of the sport. First-class courts are a major feature of five Coral Coast resort hotels: the Regent of Fiji, The Fijian, the Naviti Beach Resort, the Hyatt Regency and the Beachcomber, Pacific Harbour. The latest to raise a racket about tennis is the Naviti, where five all-weather, floodlit courts were opened last month. The artificial grass surface, imported from Canada, is endorsed by Ken Rosewall (consultant in design) as “simply the best there is.” The surface permits a tennis match to commence a short time after it has rained, an obvious advance on ordinary clay or cement courts. At the Naviti one of the best tennis ball machines from the United States is available. The Fijian Hotel makes a special feature of its tennis facilities, as well as its excellent bowling green and golf course. There is no charge for the use of the five tennis courts which are for the enjoyment of all house guests. The Fijian is one of only two resorts which have a resident professional tennis coach to help guests improve their game. Mark Wheatley, a tennis professional from the world-renowned Peter Burwash International, is the coach at The Fijian. He has coached in four countries and seven states of his native United States.