Oct. 2023
Arrival in Cairo and PyramidTour
I have been in Cairo sincelast week. Although I've seen the pyramids many times on TV, it was my first time seeing them in person. The Great Pyramid of Khufu, the largest one, is a massive structure built by stacking large and small stone blocks, standing about 140 meters tall. Its enormity and the fact that it was built over 4,500 years ago were truly astonishing.
Immigration Procedures atCairo Airport
Regarding entry into Cairo,Japanese visitors need to obtain an arrival visa at the airport, which costs
$25. There is a dedicated counter for this, but if you want to pay by credit card, you'll be directed to another window, so it's better to pay in cash. After purchasing the visa, you'll need to fill out an entry card, so it's advisable to prepare for this and exchange your currency to dollars before the immigration process. Although the local currency is the Egyptian pound, some tourist areas only accept dollars (or euros if you don't have dollars). This might be because people don't trust their own currency.
Accommodation Hotel andTournament Organization
I stayed at the official hoteldesignated by the tournament organizers. I asked Mr. Yosry Amer, the tournament director, to help with hotel reservations, arranging transportation from the airport to the hotel, and booking courts at the venue. He was very kind and mentioned how enjoyable it is to see children growing up playing tennis.
Tournament Venue and Environment
The venue was the MaadiSporting and Yacht Club, which has over 100 years of history. It was designed by the British and includes ten clay courts, a petanque field, a soccer field, and a restaurant. The location is likely in one of Cairo's upscale residential areas. The club members and their children speak English, indicating a high level of education and wealth, making the club a safe environment.
Transportation and Safety
For transportation between thehotel and the club, we used Uber for the preliminary rounds and a shuttle bus arranged by the organizers for the main event. The HIS guide advised against using taxis due to the risk of trouble, as Uber allows you to rate drivers after the ride, which motivates them to provide better service. When I told a driver that I would give him a five-star rating because his driving was good, he was very pleased.
Tournament Participants andMatch Results
This tournament featured topjunior players from Europe, including a German player who was a runner-up in the 2018 Smurlik Bowl and a Spanish player. However, Egyptian players dominated
the competition, possibly due to their physical abilities, which might be influenced by their location in Africa and their Islamic background. It was surprising when a German player, seeded third, lost to an unseeded Egyptian player in the first round. This might have been due to the hot climate, which is uncommon in Germany at this time of year, and the Egyptian player's defensive skills, which were maximized on clay courts.
Personal Match Results andReflection
My son won three preliminaryrounds but lost in the first round of the main event to an eighth-seeded
Egyptian player after a two-and-a-half-hour intense match. Although he was initially overwhelmed by his opponent's power, he managed to take control in the rallies but ultimately lost due to endurance. However, identifying his challenges was a valuable experience.
Doubles and Overseas StudyInformation
Tomorrow, he will play doubleswith a local Egyptian player. It seems like the era of finding doubles partners through Instagram has begun. We received several requests from Egyptian players
via Instagram direct messages.
For inquiries about overseastennis study abroad programs, please contact Win Sports Vision, which supports global talent development through tennis.
Email: info.wsv@winsports.vision
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