The Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) is looking to add grass courts in its national training center at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac following Alex Eala’s historic run at the Wimbledon Championships last week.

Philta executive director Tonette Mendoza told DAILY TRIBUNE they want to add more grass courts to have players be more acclimatized and be versatile in any surface.

Right now, the country has no manicured natural ryegrass that is similar to what was used at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon. In fact, establishing such will be very challenging due to the country’s intense heat, high humidity and heavy monsoon seasons that would destroy the turf and turn it into a muddy slip-and-slide surface.

The closest the country has is the artificial turf that is being used at the Tennisitas, an indoor court in Pasig City.

The country also has shell courts and, of course, hard courts with the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center as the most impressive after undergoing rehabilitation for the WTA 125 Philippine Women’s Open earlier this year.

Mendoza said they are looking forward to having a state-of-the-art grass court that will serve as practice venue of local tennis stars.

“That’s our dream. When building the National Tennis Center in New Clark City, we wanted to have at least two to four grass courts — not for competition, but for practice,” Mendoza said in a phone conversation.

“Because how can you prepare if you don’t have your own court?”

Adding more surfaces would help Filipino netters adapt to more tournaments against tougher opponents.

Mendoza, who took the long flight to London to watch the Wimbledon, said it was a delight seeing the 21-year-old Eala shine on grass and dethrone defending champion and world No. 8 Iga Swiatek in the Round of 32.

“It was a surreal experience. I was in Centre Court and she beat the defending champion. I was very proud of Alex,” Mendoza said.

“I saw Alex grow up since she was a kid. I saw her hard work. She’s very determined and focused.”