AT a time when women are making greater strides in sport, the 20-year-old Repeka Fiu is hoping her journey in tennis will inspire more females to pick up the racquet and step onto the court.
Fiu is currently the only female tennis coach based in Suva, a role she has embraced over the past two years while continuing to develop herself as a player.
Her journey with tennis began seriously in 2023, after the COVID-19 pandemic, and she describes the experience as one that has shaped her both personally and professionally.
“My journey in Tennis Fiji has been a really good one, a fruitful one I would say,” Fiu said.
“The sport has helped me a lot in my journey, has kept me healthy and has been a really good sport.”
While coaching has become her passion, Fiu believes there is still room for more women to become involved in tennis, especially in coaching roles.
She said many female players felt more comfortable learning from female coaches, but opportunities remained limited.
“From my two years of coaching female players, they’re more comfortable with female coaches. It’s sad that there’s only one female coach here in Suva,” she said.
Fiu hopes more women will take up coaching and help create a stronger pathway for female participation in tennis.
Away from coaching, Fiu continues to challenge herself as a player. She reached the semi-finals of the women’s open category at last year’s Vodafone Suva Open Tennis Tournament and has set her sights on going further this year.
“I’m hoping to at least make it to the finals,” she said.
The fourth Vodafone Suva Open Tennis Tournament will be held from August 21 to 24 at the Victoria Tennis Courts, with players from Fiji, Samoa, the Solomon Islands and Australia expected to compete.
The tournament will also introduce new junior categories, including Under-7, Under-8 and Under-10 divisions, as tennis continues to grow among young players.
For Fiu, the goal remains simple — to encourage more people, especially women and girls, to give tennis a chance.
“You wouldn’t know if you like the sport until you try it,” she said.
