HerCourt_ gives an ‘emotional’ introduction to tennis to 20 domestic helpers

Singapore tennis player Sarah Pang (left) coaching Retchel Ann Tipones of the Philippines during a clinic for domestic helpers at Kallang Tennis Hub on Sept 21.

ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

Published Sep 21, 2026, 10:02 PM

Updated Sep 21, 2026, 11:33 PM

SINGAPORE – For 20 domestic helpers, the tennis court at Kallang Tennis Hub was unfamiliar territory. Most had never held a racket before.

But by the time they left the facility on Sept 21, they had not only stepped onto a tennis court, but also learnt to play the sport from current and former players – Taiwanese Latisha Chan, a former world No. 1 in doubles, and Singapore’s Sarah Pang and Lela Zainal.

Later in the evening, they also took their seats inside the OCBC Arena to watch the professionals do it for real at the WTA 500 Singapore Tennis Open.

This was the first edition of Wingwomen, a clinic organised by HerCourt_, a women’s tennis community founded in Singapore in January.

The format was simple: Get the women onto the court, give them a racket and a coach, and let them hit.

“After almost three decades, I got to play tennis again,” said 47-year-old Filipina, Geraldine Humilde, who grew up loving sports and trying her hand at everything she could.

Latisha Chan, Taiwan’s former world No. 1 women’s doubles tennis player (centre) coaching Sani Fontanoz (left) and Retchel Ann Tipones (right) from the Philippines at the tennis clinic for domestic helpers on Sept 21. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

Latisha Chan, Taiwan’s former world No. 1 women’s doubles tennis player (centre) coaching Sani Fontanoz (left) and Retchel Ann Tipones (right) from the Philippines at the tennis clinic for domestic helpers on Sept 21.

Standing in front of the OCBC Arena before heading in to watch Canadian Leylah Fernandez take on Kyoka Okamura of Japan on the opening day of the Singapore Tennis Open, Humilde was wide-eyed.

Placing her hand on her heart, she said: “Tennis was always a bit too expensive for us to afford. And this was just an amazing experience – I’m very grateful for this.”

The draw, understandably, is Filipino star Alexandra Eala, who will line up at the US$1.2 million (S$1.5 million) tournament.

“Of course we want to see Alex. We’ve only seen her on television, and we are hoping to come here (to the OCBC Arena) again to watch her play,” said Retchel Ann Tipones, a 35-year-old Filipina.

“It was my dream when I was little to play tennis... and I’m very grateful that through my employer, I have this opportunity. I got to train with Sarah Pang, who taught me how to hold the tennis racket.

“It was the basics, but it’s very emotional for me because I did not have a family that could support me (to play).”

Singapore’s tennis player Sarah Pang (right) coaching Geraldine Humilde from the Philippines at the tennis clinic for domestic helpers on Sept 21. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

Singapore’s tennis player Sarah Pang (right) coaching Geraldine Humilde from the Philippines at the tennis clinic for domestic helpers on Sept 21.

Tipones’ compatriot Sani Fontanoz was bouncing up and down as she described her experience.

“I was very nervous and very excited before I stepped onto the court because this was my first time trying to play tennis,” said the 44-year-old.

“My employer is very good at tennis and I wanted to be like her. It’s nice that we are going to watch Leylah, who we know has Filipino heritage.”

This excitement at watching one of their own was what kicked things off in the first instance.

HerCourt_ co-organiser Agnes Teah said: “So many of them asked whether they would get to see Alex Eala play. That question is what sparked the whole idea – to get them access to the opening day.”

She added: “Our hearts are set on doing something for women in this sport, and naturally we thought of our wingwomen. They help us in our tennis with everything from packing to laundry, and it’s great that they get to experience it for themselves.”

HerCourt_ founder Monika Singh agreed: “They hear us talk about tennis all day long. This is their turn – to be on the court themselves.”

Sports and recreation

9 月 21 日，新加坡网球运动员 Sarah Pang（左）在加冷网球中心为家庭佣工举办的训练营中指导菲律宾选手 Retchel Ann Tipones。

《海峡时报》照片：梁崇俊

发布于 2026 年 9 月 21 日晚上 10:02

更新于2026年9月21日晚上11:33

新加坡——对于20名家庭佣工来说，加冷网球中心的网球场是一个陌生的领域。她们中的大多数人以前从未拿过球拍。

但到 9 月 21 日他们离开该设施时，他们不仅踏上了网球场，还向现役和退役球员学习了这项运动——台湾选手陈丽霞（前世界排名第一的双打选手）以及新加坡选手彭莎拉和莱拉·扎伊纳尔。

当晚晚些时候，他们还入座 OCBC 体育馆，观看 WTA 500 新加坡网球公开赛上职业选手们的精彩比赛。

这是 Wingwomen 的第一期，该训练营由 HerCourt_ 组织，HerCourt_ 是一个于 1 月份在新加坡成立的女子网球社区。

比赛形式很简单：让女孩子们上场，给她们球拍和教练，然后让她们练习击球。

“时隔近三十年，我终于又能打网球了，”47岁的菲律宾人杰拉尔丁·胡米尔德说道。她从小就热爱运动，并尝试过各种各样的运动。

9月21日，台湾前世界排名第一的女双选手陈丽霞（中）在为家政工人举办的网球训练营中指导来自菲律宾的萨尼·丰塔诺兹（左）和雷切尔·安·蒂波内斯（右）。（海峡时报摄影：梁崇俊）

9 月 21 日，台湾前世界排名第一的女子双打网球选手陈丽霞（中）在为家政工人举办的网球训练营中指导来自菲律宾的萨尼·丰塔诺兹（左）和雷切尔·安·蒂波内斯（右）。

在新加坡网球公开赛首日，加拿大选手莱拉·费尔南德斯对阵日本选手冈村京香的比赛即将开始，站在 OCBC 体育馆前，胡米尔德睁大了眼睛。

她把手放在胸口，说道：“网球对我们来说一直有点贵。这次的经历太棒了——我非常感激。”

不难理解，最引人注目的是菲律宾球星亚历山德拉·埃拉，她将参加奖金为 120 万美元（150 万新元）的锦标赛。

“我们当然想看亚历克斯比赛。我们只在电视上看过她，希望能够再次来到这里（OCBC 体育馆）观看她比赛，”35 岁的菲律宾人雷切尔·安·蒂波内斯说道。

“我小时候的梦想就是打网球……我非常感谢我的雇主给了我这个机会。我有机会和Sarah Pang一起训练，她教我如何握网球拍。”

“虽然只是最基本的，但对我来说意义非凡，因为我没有家人可以支持我（打球）。”

9月21日，新加坡网球选手Sarah Pang（右）在为家政工人举办的网球训练营中指导来自菲律宾的Geraldine Humilde。（海峡时报摄影：CHONG JUN LIANG）

9 月 21 日，新加坡网球运动员 Sarah Pang（右）在为家庭佣工举办的网球训练营中指导来自菲律宾的 Geraldine Humilde。

蒂波内斯的同胞萨尼·丰塔诺兹一边描述自己的经历，一边激动得跳来跳去。

这位44岁的男子说：“踏上球场之前，我既紧张又兴奋，因为这是我第一次尝试打网球。”

“我的老板网球打得很好，我一直想成为像她一样的人。很高兴我们能观看莱拉的比赛，我们知道她有菲律宾血统。”

正是这种观看自己人比赛的兴奋之情，最初引发了这一切。

HerCourt_联合组织者艾格尼丝·蒂亚说：“很多人都问他们是否能看到亚历克斯·伊拉的表演。正是这个问题激发了我们的想法——让他们有机会参加开幕式。”

她补充道：“我们一心想为这项运动中的女性做些事情，自然而然地就想到了我们的女助手们。她们在网球比赛中帮我们做各种各样的事情，从打包行李到洗衣服，她们能亲身体验这一切真是太好了。”

HerCourt_创始人莫妮卡·辛格对此表示赞同：“他们整天听我们谈论网球。现在轮到他们了——让他们自己上场打球。”

体育和休闲