From 100Km/h Pitcher to 150Km/h Server, Hong Soo-ah

Participating in 1-2 competitions every month
Started for fun during a 5-year project break
Won KTFS Gaenari Division in 2022
Goal is promotion to KATA Gukhwa Division

"It's thrilling when I get a service ace or successfully execute a high volley smash."

Actress Hong Soo-ah, nicknamed 'Hongdro' for throwing a baseball at 100 km/h, is currently passionate about tennis. She participates in one or two amateur tennis tournaments every month without fail. On the 24th of last month, we met Hong Soo-ah at the Olympic Park tennis courts. On that day, the KATA Tour Seoul Cup, hosted and organized by the Korea Tennis Advancement Association (KATA), was held at the Olympic courts. Hong Soo-ah had easily won two matches in the morning qualifying league, ranking first in her group, and was waiting for the main draw matches in the afternoon.

Hong Soo-ah started playing tennis about five years ago. "I learned it out of boredom during a break from acting, and it was so much fun."

Hong Soo-ah is famous for her nickname ‘Hongdro,’ named after the legendary Major League Baseball pitcher Pedro Martinez. This nickname originated from her dynamic ceremonial first pitch at a professional baseball game between the Doosan Bears and Samsung Lions held at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul in July 2005, which reminded people of Martinez. She has thrown several ceremonial first pitches since then. People were thrilled by her impressive pitching speed, saying she threw the ball at 100 km/h. "My top speed was probably around 80 km/h. The nickname ‘Hongdro’ came from that, and baseball fans still cheer for me. I’m very grateful."

How fast is her tennis serve? Professional baseball pitchers can throw up to about 160 km/h. Tennis serves can reach up to about 240 km/h. The fastest female professional players serve at speeds around 200 km/h. Many fans expect her to deliver a representative serve close to 150 km/h. However, she said she has never measured her serve speed. "I don’t think my serve is very fast. I tend to succeed by targeting the course well to score aces."

Hong Soo-ah said her goal this fall is to achieve ‘Wanguk’ (완국). Female amateur tennis players are divided into the Gaenari division and the higher-level Gukhwa division based on skill and performance. Usually, winning a Gaenari division tournament promotes a player to the Gukhwa division. Hong Soo-ah won the Gaenari division at the Korea Tennis Federation Sports (KTFS) amateur tournament in September 2022. Therefore, she is already in the Gukhwa division under KTFS.

"I already won once in the KTFS Gaenari division and became part of the Gukhwa division. On September 27, 2022, I won the KTFS ‘5th Mulmalgeun Yangpyeong National Women’s Tennis Tournament,’ a ranking tournament in the Gaenari division. It was my third year playing tennis, and it was the happiest moment since I started learning tennis. If I win the Gaenari division in KATA as well, I will become a full Gukhwa player, which is called ‘Wanguk.’ Winning the Gaenari division in both KATA and KTFS means achieving Wanguk, and after that, I can compete in the Gukhwa division to further improve my skills."

In recent years, tennis has become very popular, especially among the younger generation in their 20s and 30s. Many who used to learn golf have found tennis more enjoyable. Hong Soo-ah also said tennis is more fun than golf. "I like throwing baseballs, and when I was young, I did athletics and handball. I also learned a bit of golf. But tennis, which involves running around and aerobic exercise, is more fun than golf. Tennis allows people of all ages?men, women, kids, and seniors?to become friends and enjoy the game together. It’s really fun to hang out with people around my mom’s age, calling them ‘unnie’ (older sister). I’ve met so many good people this way. My personality has become much brighter."

Actress Hong Soo-ah is throwing the first pitch at the 2008 Korea Series Game 5 between Doosan and SK held at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on October 31, 2008.
Photo by Yonhap News

Since learning tennis, her weight has increased due to muscle gain.

"I gained 5 kg. I used to be very thin, but now I have muscles and my health has improved. However, the increase in muscle mass has some downsides. My stylist brought a pretty dress that used to suit me well, but I was surprised when I tried it on. My arm muscles stand out, so feminine dresses no longer suit me. Now I have to wear clothes that cover my upper arms. The same goes for my legs."

Hong Soo-ah currently takes tennis lessons once a week and also receives personal training (PT). Since tennis puts a lot of strain on the knees, she pays special attention to rehabilitation PT. She is considering new film or drama projects this fall and is currently reviewing scripts. "It would be great to win at KATA this fall and then start a new project."