Strings that bind

Strings that bind

Having strung for more than 20 years, Eric is the grandmaster of his craft. He has been the official stringer for all the tournaments in Singapore organised by the Singapore Tennis Association (STA) since 1991.

He holds the certification of training with an accreditation Master Racket Technician (MRT) from the United States. His apprentice, Timothy Neo Kok Keong, 28, is a budding stringer who does it for passion. He started stringing a year ago and wants to make it as a career.

"I like tennis!" Timothy Neo Kok Keong, 28, an apprentice stringer, explains about why he chose to take up stringing as a career. He likes what he is doing as he gets to meet the top tennis stars and tournaments held here.

"He is good, in fact we train many stringers who eventually open their own shops." Eric when asked about his disciple, Timothy.

"To learn this trade is a skill," Eric elaborates about MRT certification which is a course that requires rigorous theory and practical tests.

He is one of only two people in Singapore who has the certification and the other is his full-time staff at his tennis store, Trans World International in Queensway Shopping Centre.

"The timing!" Eric said, when asked about the most important thing about stringing in a major tournament.

Being punctual and giving the rackets to players on time is essential.

"If the timing is right, and everything falls into place. One fine day you get to string for your favourite players."

Timothy when asked for advice for aspiring stringers. Well, it seems like Timothy's timing is just right and his strings are in the correct tension, ace.

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