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Daily Record
5 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Anyone for tennis? Not me but the ace Megasaray Club Belek serves up a stunning five star treat for holidaymakers
Michael Gannon headed to Antalya in Turkey to check out a stunning resort that is a regular stopping point on the tennis tour My new German chum recognised the Scottish accent but my gag was lost in translation. 'Ah, you are like Andy Murray, are you here for the tennis?' 'I'm more like Chic Murray,' I replied. Perhaps understandably he'd never heard of the legendary Scottish stand-up. I wasn't there for the tennis either. I was at the Megasaray Club Belek for a luxurious family break. And it was ace. In fairness to my new friend, it was a fair question. The superb resort in Türkiye's Antalya coast is renowned for tennis. With more than 20 top class courts, exceptional training facilities, including a SPA and wellness centre, along with a gym. Little wonder it's a regular staging point for World Tennis Association ranking events and a Mecca for amateur players looking to some game time in stunning weather. There are as many racquet bags as there are beach bags around the stunning complex. There are plenty of sublime golf courses on the doorstep as well. But we were not there to work up a sweat. We were there to relax and soak up some rays after a brutally long Scottish winter. And this place delivered and then some. Antalya has become a hot spot for tourists from the UK and beyond and there are a string of five star all includes right along the coast. The Megasaray Club Belek is more of a hidden gem to British holidaymakers though as it's been more of a haunt for travellers from the rest of Europe. It's time Brits got in on the secret though. This place served up a treat. We spent a week in late spring and it was a winner with my wife and six-yer-old daughter. The first impressions were, well impressive, and the standards never slipped for a second. Some of these huge resorts can feel a little overpowering but this one felt much more welcoming and relaxing, which is good going for a place with near 600 rooms and close to 1900 beds. It was busy without every feeling overcrowded, sprawling yet intimate. We felt right at home from the first minute. There are several pool areas with beautiful pine tree lined gardens. Each section caters for every taste. There's the main pool, the central hub with plenty of loungers and a winding river around it. There's also an adults only pool for those wanting some extra peace and quiet with a couple of other ones – hugged by bars – for folk to relax next to. But my wife's focus was honed in on one part of the hotel in particular – the beach. The Megasaray has it's only private sandy section with a stunning pier as well. And as a dedicated beach lover, it was right up her street. The soft sand and still water made it perfect for topping up tans and cooling off with a dip. The cabanas are sensational for those looking for a bit of coastal luxury, with food and drink dished out at a whim. The pier has loungers and it's own bar too, and it's a stunning spot for a drink, especially later in the afternoon when the sun is starting to dip. Likewise the cool bear bar perched on the water's edge. If all this sounds incredibly relaxing, you'd be right. But don't be fooled. There's also a thrilling waterpark for the young – and the young at heart. My we one is a daredevil at the best of times and her eyes lift up the moment she clocked the chutes and flumes. I barely got time to slap on the Factor 50 before she had me whisked off to give them a whirl. She had a ball – I had a bawl. Half of Antalya must have heard my scream when we rocketed down one of the four-storey chutes like the Jamaican bobsleigh team. It was great fun though and put to full use every single day. The rewards for her old day came elsewhere. Like the food and drink. And this is where the Megasaray really delivers. The dinning options were not just good, like they are in a lot of five star all inclusive resorts, they were exception. At some places, the buffets can be dull and the a la carte options limited. Not here. From a breakfast with more options than my mind could cope with, to the sensational street food stack corner and the evening buffet hub, it was full marks for the lot. It was the a la carte restaurants that were another level. We went for several options, including the Italian, the Mexican and the Chinese. It was tough to pick a winner as every one of them was top notch. But if pushed, the Mexican narrowly came out on top. Oh wait, the Italian. No, the Chinese… Mind you, the shrimp fajitas in the Mexican might just edge it. There was plenty for the fussy youngster in our group as well, with terrific kids menus. The kids club got a big thumbs up too, as did the entertainment at night which starts with mini discos before a succession of cracking shows for all the family. It was a hard place to leave but we did venture out to check out its sister hotel, the Megasasay West Beach Antalya, on the beautiful Konyaalti Promenade on the other side of the city. There was a different vibe there, with a hotel that could have been airlifted out of Miami, with cool design and trendy restaurants and bars. It's right on the beach and also close to the Antalya old town for people who fancy getting out and about to see the sights. Back at our HQ we went from a regular room – which was anything but regular with a stunning sea view – to a swim up suite that was something really special. The Megasaray Club Belek was a smash hit – and that's no joke. GET THERE Several airlines fly direct from Scotland to Antalya, including Jet2, TUI and Sun Express BOOK IT Rooms at the Megasaray Club Belek are available direct with the resort, with or packages with TUI and Jet2, prices variable
Fox News
26-03-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Iga Swiatek gets heightened security at Miami Open after 'aggressive' fan verbally attacked her: report
Five-time grand slam winner Iga Swiatek was reportedly given boosted security during the Miami Open this week after an "aggressive" fan verbally attacked her at the tournament. The fan has previously sent abusive messages to the three-time reigning French Open winner online, BBC Sport reported, citing Swiatek's representatives. The reported incident occurred Saturday during a practice session, and it "[appeared] to be a direct transition from verbal aggression online to harassment in the real world," Swiatek's reps said. "Constructive criticism is one thing, and threats, hate speech or even disturbance during training is another — this cannot be condoned," a spokesperson for Swiatek said. "We take the safety and security of all players and tournament attendees extremely seriously," the Miami Open said in a statement. "We constantly evaluate any potential threats and take every measure to respond appropriately. To ensure the effectiveness of these efforts, we do not disclose the details of our security operations." The World Tennis Association added, "Player safety is our top priority. The WTA works closely with tournaments and their security teams on best practices for international sporting events to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants. "There are comprehensive security protocols in place to make sure that any incidents are handled promptly and effectively. The details of these are not something we discuss publicly, but we are steadfast in our commitment to maintaining a safe environment for players and everyone attending one of our events." Swiatek recently returned from a one-month doping suspension in which she did not miss any grand slams. The episode comes a little more than a month after a stalker was removed from a match being played by 2021 U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu in Dubai. At the Dubai Championships last month, Raducanu said, she could barely breathe and her eyes filled with tears when a stalker who had approached her earlier in the tournament was in the stands during her match. The No. 2-seeded Swiatek lost to wild card Alexandra Eala in the quarterfinals Wednesday. Asked afterward whether the security situation disrupted her match preparation, Swiatek replied: "No, I wouldn't say so." Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
The National
20-02-2025
- Sport
- The National
Dubai authorities detain man who harassed Raducanu but tennis star drops charges
Dubai authorities detained a man who harassed the British tennis star Emma Raducanu during a major tournament this week. The government on Thursday evening said an individual was held for questioning by Dubai Police. He was described as a 'tourist', though no further details about his identity were given. The arrest came after the 22-year-old player was approached by the suspect on Monday, reportedly in her hotel. Then, a day later, as she played Karolina Muchova at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, she broke down in tears on court, having spotted the same man in the crowd. Dubai Government Media Office said authorities had taken "swift action" to detain the person. "Following Raducanu's complaint, Dubai Police detained a tourist who approached her, left her a note, took her photograph, and engaged in behaviour that caused her distress during the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships," it said. "While Raducanu later chose to drop the charges, the individual signed a formal undertaking to maintain distance from her and has been banned from future tournaments. "Dubai remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all residents and visitors to the emirate." Raducanu's breakdown into tears was captured by television cameras on Tuesday night. But the reason for the incident was not known until the next day when the World Tennis Association issued a statement. It said the man 'exhibited fixated behaviour' that left the star in distress and he was ejected from the stadium. On Wednesday, Raducanu posted on Instagram: "Thank you for the messages of support. Difficult experience yesterday but I'll be okay and proud of how I came back and competed despite what happened at the start of the match." World number two Iga Swiatek said it was the WTA's responsibility to ensure player safety at tournaments and was pleased to see the tour's swift reaction. Other players stressed their support for Raducanu and backed the authorities' swift response.
