Actress Hong Soo-ah has ascended to the status of a global tennis goddess.
On the 9th, Hong Soo-ah successfully completed the global sports event ‘Ragi-Ragi Tennis International’ held in Indonesia. Although she did not taste the joy of victory, her outstanding performance and bold spirit of challenge earned her a warm applause from local fans.
‘Ragi-Ragi Tennis International’ is a large sports festival hosted by RANS Entertainment, the largest entertainment company in the region. This year, Hong Soo-ah represented Korea and faced off against Indonesian national star Raffi Ahmad. The match garnered significant attention as a big match between a Hallyu star and a local star even before the tournament, and the atmosphere on the day proved to be heated.
From the early stages of the match, Hong Soo-ah captivated the audience with her characteristic fighting spirit and stable strokes. She showcased bold net play at crucial moments and demonstrated focus and skill comparable to professional players, receiving great responses from local fans.
After the match, the local reaction was also enthusiastic. Indonesian media commented, “Hong Soo-ah’s play was impressive. It was hard to believe she is an actress given her serious performance.” Fans also expressed their amazement, saying, “I can’t believe she plays tennis this well,” and “She is the tennis goddess from Korea,” sharing her performance on social media with excitement.
The match was broadcast live worldwide through YouTube live streaming. From the start of the match, fans continued to click, and the video has currently recorded 1.37 million views, proving the interest of global fans as well as those in Indonesia. Immediately after the match, local reporters flooded in with interview requests, and Hong Soo-ah communicated with fans by sincerely answering the enthusiastic questions while maintaining her smile.
After the match, Hong Soo-ah stated, “Although I did not win, it was truly a valuable experience. I am happy to connect with so many people through tennis. I will continue to challenge myself in the future.”
Through this tournament, Hong Soo-ah has shown new possibilities as a ‘global artist encompassing sports and entertainment’ beyond being an actress. There is anticipation for her to take on another challenge in front of the public, capturing the hearts of fans in both Korea and Indonesia.
[Lee Da-kyum, Star Today Reporter]
