Bulgarian tennis shows promising progress, says former star Pironkova

Former tennis player and Bulgaria's sportsperson of the year for 2020, Tsvetana Pironkova, shared in an interview for the Bulgarian Tennis Federation published on Wednesday that she sees improvement in the performances shown by Bulgarian tennis players.

Pironkova was an ambassador for the Bulgarian Tennis Federation at the Junior Orange Bowl European Playoff Series hosted by Burgas, on the Black Sea, last week, CE Report quotes BTA.

The former professional athlete shared: "This year we have seen some very good results, which are undoubtedly the result of a great deal of hard work, perseverance and dedication." Commenting on competition in Burgas, she said out of a total of 16 places in the main draw of the Orange Bowl in the US, 13 were won by Bulgarian children. "This is an exceptionally strong performance, which shows that we have talented and competitive young players. Of course, hosting the event brings its own advantages, but ultimately victories must be earned on the court. The Bulgarian children demonstrated not only good tennis skills, but also character and a desire to win. These results are very encouraging."

Pironkova highlighted the importance of Bulgarian children having the opportunity to take part in international tournaments on home soil. She said: "This makes the competitions much more accessible to them and gives them the chance to gain valuable experience by competing against their peers from Europe and around the world." She added that Bulgaria being the host of elite international tournaments boosts Bulgarian children's self-esteem and their sense of belonging to the international tennis community.

The former world No. 31 shared: "I remember the start of my own professional career very well, when I was fighting for every point in the rankings. The constant travelling was a huge challenge, both physically and financially. Back then, I was rather envious of my colleagues from countries where numerous tournaments were held and who had the opportunity, so to speak, to sleep in their own beds and step onto the court the very next day. For me, that was a real dream. That is why I am genuinely delighted that Bulgarian players now have these opportunities. I am convinced that such support can make a huge difference to their development."

Photo: Instagram/tpironkova