Moldova opens new national tennis center with help from Juan Martin del Potro and Simona Halep

Moldovan tennis took a major step onto the international stage on Saturday as a new national tennis center was officially opened in the capital of Chisinau. The state-of-the-art complex immediately becomes the new home of professional tennis in the country, situated at Satul German (The German Village)—a premium, eco-friendly residential suburb under development close to the airport.

The opening ceremony, held just ahead of the Moldova Open ATP Challenger 100 tournament, brought together international federation officials, political representatives, tennis legends and hundreds of fans for what became one of the most significant sporting events in Moldova in recent years.

At the heart of the project is Moldovan Tennis Federation president Ceslav Ciukhrii, whose long-term commitment and investment helped turn the vision of a world-class tennis facility into reality. The complex, which includes six outdoor clay courts and a modern indoor arena, has already received official ITF certification, allowing it to host tournaments at the highest level.

The scale of the occasion reflected the ambitions behind the project. Special central stands with a capacity of more than 1,000 spectators were built for the event, while guests included representatives from the International Tennis Federation and Tennis Europe, among them ITF Chief Executive Officer Ross Hutchins and Tennis Europe President Henrik Thorsøe Pedersen.

Halep and Del Potro join mixed doubles exhibition

The highlight of the afternoon was an exhibition match featuring Grand Slam champions Simona Halep and Juan Martin del Potro alongside Moldovan No. 1 Radu Albot and 17-year-old rising local talent Lia Belibova. Halep partnered Albot, while del Potro teamed up with Belibova in a lively and entertaining mixed doubles contest.

"It is a huge day for Moldovan tennis," said former world No. 39 Albot. "We haven't had such an event ever before here. I hope the players and spectators enjoy it. The venue is crazy. The national tennis center is unbelievable. The courts are top class. You have everything you need, and I am really looking forward to playing here."

One of the most memorable moments came when Moldovan Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu unexpectedly stepped onto the court in full tennis attire to join the exhibition, earning loud applause from the crowd. The match eventually ended with Halep and Albot winning a championship tiebreaker after an entertaining battle.

“This is a place where character, discipline, ambition and performance will be built. For years, many talented young people have had to go abroad to access good courts, competitions and professional training. Today, we are proving that Moldova can also offer conditions of international level," Munteanu said in his speech.

Coaching careers for del Potro and Halep?

Away from the court, both Halep and del Potro shared their thoughts on the current state of the sport, Roland Garros, and their own futures in tennis.

Discussing the favorites for Roland Garros, del Potro said that "Novak [Djokovic] can't be ruled out."

"He's still capable of posing serious competition to [Jannik] Sinner, especially without Alcaraz," he said.

The 37-year-old Argentine also addressed growing discussions surrounding a possible Grand Slam boycott.

"I support the players," he said. "Largely because I was among those who raised this issue [behind the scenes] before. These conversations have been going on for a while."

Halep echoed concerns about player treatment at the highest level of the sport.

"The players are right when they say they're not always treated with the respect they deserve," the 34-year-old former world No. 1 said. "Sometimes it feels like tennis at the highest level is treated like a showpiece, rather than a sport where people give their best every day."

But asked about a future in coaching, del Potro admitted he is currently enjoying some distance from professional tennis.

"Right now, I'd like to take a little break from tennis in general," he said. "I only watch the big matches when the billing is strong, or when the Grand Slam finals are big. But if I ever work with a player, I'd be interested in someone with a similar style to mine."

Halep added: "I'm not ready to coach anyone right now. I've given my all to tennis, and now I want to help develop the sport in Romania."

The opening of the facility marks the beginning of a new chapter for tennis in Moldova. Thanks to its modern infrastructure and world-class facilities, the complex is now capable of hosting major international events, including the Moldova Open. The venue will also welcome the Davis Cup Europe Group III competition from June 10–13, further establishing Chisinau as an emerging destination on the international tennis calendar.