Legendary tennis coach to open academy at CORA

THE coming CORA (Cape Otway Road Australia) sports training precinct near Modewarre has served up a major deal to create what is being touted as the Southern Hemisphere’s largest tennis academy.

Today (Thursday, January 11), CORA will announce legendary French tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou would replicate his flagship tennis academy in Nice within the $500 million CORA development near Modewarre, and start teaching students within three years.

The Mouratoglou Academy Australia complex will comprise 48 courts, including 33 tennis courts and 15 other courts (padel, pickle and mini), a show court and a clubhouse, as well as state-of-the-art gym and swimming facilities.

Mouratoglou, who coached US superstar Serena Williams for the better part of a decade, said Mouratoglou Academy Australia at CORA was a “big move” for his company’s brand.

“We have always loved Australia, a genuine ‘tennis nation’, and this partnership is an exciting development for the region, providing educational and career opportunities for young students as well as athletes.

“With over half the Australian adult population showing clear interest in tennis and school programs as well as tennis camps, CORA is the perfect partner to help deliver our vision in APAC [the Asia Pacific], creating the number one tennis school program in the Southern Hemisphere.”

In collaboration with an Australian-accredited boarding school provider, Mouratoglou Academy Australia will offer about 200 places to tennis students from Grade 5 to Year 12, with the first school year expected to start in 2027.

As well as the tennis and school program, the academy will also offer tennis camps to the Australian public, mostly during school holidays.

“Mouratoglou’s involvement illustrates the potency and relevance of the CORA project in a global context,” CORA co-founder Daryl Pelchen said

“Created to represent the best of Australia to the rest of the world, we are delighted to welcome Mouratoglou as an anchor tenant at CORA.

“With a shared vision for excellence, Mouratoglou Academy Australia at CORA will provide a unique destination to both identify and shape champions.”

Attendes at today’s announcement, held in the lead-up to the Australian Open, will include Deputy Prime Minister and Corio federal member Richard Marles and Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos.

““It is really exciting to see our region become home to this world-class training facility,” Mr Marles said.

“Not only will students and athletes from the Victorian Surf Coast, greater Geelong and beyond benefit, but it will also support hundreds of local jobs.”

Multiplex will begin construction on the wider CORA precinct this year, and the facility is expected to include other sport academies, a 128-room five-star wellness hotel, a retail village, allied health and sports science facilities and a significant conservation area.

CORA says construction will create more than 1,000 jobs and inject more than $2 billion into the local economy, and the precinct will provide 800 ongoing jobs and more than $150 million in revenue annually.