Gazing at the condition of the tennis courts at Estadio Panamericano in Havana, it is hard to imagine the nation’s high-performance players training there – but they do.

The surfaces of the National Tennis Centre’s 10 hard courts are in desperate need of repair while the general facilities at the complex, which was initially built to host the 1991 Pan-American Games, also require some attention.

The total cost of the repairs is $150,000(US) and the ITF is stepping in with the maximum available under the ITF’s Facility Grant Programme.

A phenomenal fundraising effort led by Kids on the Ball – a non-profit organisation founded by Jake Agna in 2000 which provides opportunities for personal growth through games – means the full $150,000(US) has been raised.

Kids on the Ball deserves huge credit after playing a significant role in the recent history of tennis in Cuba.

In 2016, Kids on the Ball raised a staggering $400,000 to completely refurbish and upgrade the very same courts which were in a complete state of disrepair, having barely had any remedial work done to them since their construction in the early nineties.

Kids on the Ball have played a significant role in Cuba's recent tennis history

The aim is for the courts to be repaired by mid-May, with Federacion Cubana de Tenis de Campo – Cuba's National Association – set to mark the occasion by hosting a tennis festival in Havana.

"Cuba is a unique place, not only in my region but also the world,” said Cecilia Ancalmo, the ITF’s Development Officer for Central America.

“There is limited private investment and, for a project like this, Federacion Cubana de Tenis de Campo would rely upon government funding. As a result, the ITF’s support and the support of Kids on the Ball has been key.

“The upgrade of the courts at the National Tennis Centre will make a big difference to everyone who relies upon that facility, and the investment is huge in terms of developing tennis within Cuba.

“There are children who are desperate to play tennis, who have been attracted to the sport by the ITF’s Junior Tennis Initiative (JTI).

“But they have had limited opportunities to play on a suitable tennis court because the existing facilities have suffered deterioration over time and the resources to improve them is limited.

“This investment and upgrade in facilities will allow that to happen and will also help those further along the pathway who currently occupy the performance space. It will make a big difference to Cuban tennis in the short to medium-term.”

Beyond the tennis festival, Cuba’s Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup teams – and other high-performance players – will have a suitable facility at which to practice ahead of their upcoming commitments.

Cuba’s Billie Jean King Cup team will play an Americas Group II event in Dominican Republic in July, while the same week their Davis Cup team will contest an Americas Group IV event in Trinidad & Tobago.

Looking further ahead, Federacion Cubana de Tenis de Campo have ambitions for Cuba to once again host ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors events, having not done so since 2019.

The courts at Cuba's National Tennis Centre 

Cuba regularly staged junior events from 2002 but limitations to finding suitable facilities mean no ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors tournaments have been held there in five years.

The wider context is that Cuba last hosted an ITF World Tennis Tour Men’s event in December 2010, while the most-recent ITF World Tennis Tour Women’s event there was in 2011.

“To start hosting events again is a big and important goal for Federacion Cubana de Tenis de Campo,” added Ancalmo.

“In the past, there was always strong high-performance activity but, due to a lack of funding, Cuba’s players struggle to play outside of their nation meaning they miss out on international competition.

“If some of the hurdles to hosting can be removed, it would be a huge step in the right direction and give Cuba’s aspiring tennis players access to international competition is their own country the platform to showcase their skills.

“Interest is there. Tennis is evident in each of Cuba’s provinces and the equipment which the ITF provides through the JTI is valued enormously by Federacion Cubana de Tenis de Campo.  

“Despite so many difficulties, the work and passion of Federacion Cubana de Tenis de Campo to maintain tennis within Cuba is highly commendable.

“I am a big fan of their spirit and resilience. There are struggles in continuing tennis on the island and others would have given up long ago.”

Luca Santilli, the ITF’s Executive Director, Tennis Development, added: “When I visited Cuba in 2018, I was really impressed with the willingness of the players and coaches to work hard and maintain their dreams of representing Cuba in ITF competitions.

“Regardless of their financial limitations, this is a fully engaged tennis nation and, once the facility is able to host ITF-sanctioned tournaments again, we will see more international players visiting the island. This will be a significant boost to the development of aspiring Cuban players.”

To reinforce the point about the level of interest in tennis in Cuba, 3199 children were active within Cuba's JTI programme across 25 venues in 2023. There were also more than 9000 entries into organised 14-and-under competitions by players who were part of the JTI. 

As a reminder, the JTI is a national tennis development programme for the 14-and-under age group supported by the ITF. In many cases, this is the place where children pick up a racket for the first time.

From here, those children are encouraged to play in locally organised competitions and sessions within schools, the community and tennis venues, with the most talented identified for more focused development. 

While those children currently in the JTI are from all corners of Cuba, what a benefit it would be to have a pristine facility in the capital city acting as a national hub.

That dream will soon be a reality and hopefully the future of tennis in Cuba will be looking a little brighter.