Monica de Maria: “A new tennis boom. And the Sinner effect is undeniable”

With sufficient honesty, Monica De Maria, owner of Prima Sport, a leading company in sports coverings, admitted that “I would have never imagined building over 2,500 facilities when we started the business in 2002.” Now Prima Sport has become synonymous with the pressostatic dome, the preferred solution for tennis clubs to meet the needs of players and the club’s budget. Alongside this, there has been growth in demand for fixed structures made of laminated wood and many other services that can make a sports facility efficient and high-performing. With some new trends on the horizon.

What is the current situation in the tennis coverings market?
The trend is growing. We noticed strong signals last year, and this year the demand continues to rise. The “Sinner effect” is undeniable; many clubs have waiting lists for membership or lessons, so the clubs are adapting. There are also several renovations of obsolete facilities: some installed a laminated wood structure in the 1980s and have never done a bit of maintenance! We recommend an annual inspection and a more thorough check every ten years, as regulations would suggest. In reality, few do this, and in the long term, they pay the consequences.

What are the ideal solutions for tennis coverings?
The pressostatic dome remains a must because the needs of a tennis club must consider the demands of players and the budget of the manager. Moreover, not everyone has available volume to allow the installation of a fixed structure, so the dome is the ideal choice because it is completely removable and only requires a municipal notice to obtain permission, always respecting current regulations, particularly regarding wind load.

However, if there’s the possibility of opting for a fixed structure, the battle is between wood and steel.
And we have no doubt: wood has always been the preferred option, though it used to cost 40% more, while now the prices have become essentially identical. Wood is aesthetically more pleasing, eco-friendly, and more performant. We could easily install steel structures as well, but a company should promote a product in which it firmly believes, and for us, that is laminated wood.