No crowds, no pressure, just the quiet excitement of being among the first to step onto these courts in paradise. This January, we experienced the Mouratoglou Tennis Center Bali during its soft opening. It was an invite-only moment before the courts officially opened. We spent the weekend playing on freshly finished courts, surrounded by palm trees and rice fields. A first chapter in what will soon become a global tennis destination.
Welcome to the Broken Rackets World Tour in Bali where we invited an intimate group of people to play tennis in another 'paradise court'.
Our base for the weekend was Tanah Gajah Resort, a Resort by Hadiprana. A family-owned property surrounded by rice fields, quiet and expansive, with villas spread across beautifully maintained grounds. The setting immediately sets the tone. Calm, open, grounded. Their tennis court sits naturally by the entrance of the property, framed by lush greenery.
Tanah Gajah feels personal. Mornings overlook the rice fields. The restaurant opens onto wide views, with a hot air balloon floating above the landscape in the distance. Everything moves at a softer pace.
On the first evening, we gathered for a Kecak fire dance at the resort. Sitting together as the chanting built and the fire lit the night felt like a meaningful introduction to Balinese culture. It was simple, powerful, and made even more special by experiencing it as a group.
The following morning, we headed to the Mouratoglou Tennis Center at Kula Mani Tennis Village. The resort arranged transportation for everyone, which kept the flow easy and relaxed. The tennis center is still in its soft opening phase, but even unfinished, it already feels like something special.
The facility includes three hard courts, two clay courts, and two outdoor grandstand courts. Five of the courts are covered, while the outdoor courts open onto views of rice fields and palm trees.
Andrea, the Head of Racket Sports, led our two-hour session. The morning started with light rain, so we began on one of the covered jungle-view courts while the outdoor courts dried. Warm-ups flowed naturally into play. King of the Court doubles brought energy to the group straight away.
From there, the group split comfortably by level. More advanced players moved onto another court for doubles tie-breaks, while others rotated through drills and clinic-style exercises. There was also room for singles tie-breaks on one of the clay courts, using clay imported from Italy.
During the session, we released our Broken Rackets Tennis Resort Tee and gifted a special selection of merchandise.
When the rain cleared and the sun came out, everything shifted. We moved to the outdoor grandstand courts, now fully dry. An open sky and palm trees framed the court. Even as the heat set in, everyone kept playing and asking for just one more point.
At the end of the session, we gathered by the pool where fresh coconuts and fruit platters were served. People lingered, talking through points, laughing about missed shots, staying present a little longer than planned.
We returned to Tanah Gajah for lunch, a relaxed three-course meal on a beautiful table overlooking the rice fields. Conversation moved easily from tennis to travel, shared connections, favorite players, and stories from past trips. After lunch, the afternoon slowed down even more.
Some guests chose to enjoy massages kindly offered by the resort. Others stayed back for coffee and conversation. We gathered at Kurasu Coffee, located on the Tanah Gajah grounds, for matcha and espresso, then settled into shaded seating and talked through the afternoon. No schedule or particular agenda.
The next morning, everyone met again for breakfast, already eager for one last hitting session before heading off in different directions. From around 8:30 until late morning, we played on the Tanah Gajah tennis court. Doubles, volleys, relaxed rallies. The red and green court sat among palm trees and jungle, glowing in the tropical light.
Afterwards, guests slowly checked out. Some squeezed in one last massage, others packed up and moved on to their next destination. The group gradually dispersed, but the feeling of the weekend stayed.
This Bali event marked Broken Rackets’ first gathering outside of Europe. It reminded us why we do this. Tennis has a quiet way of bringing people together. When paired with thoughtful places and open-minded people, it becomes more than a sport.
An easy tropical weekend of tennis and connection. A strong start to the year, and the beginning of many more stops on the Broken Rackets World Tour.
