LEIRIA - DAKAR
October - December 2025
Yamaha Ténéré 700 2021
The FIRST OFFICIAL MISSION
A journey loaded with meaning, purpose and symbolism.
Riding solo and without assistance, the route followed the historic tracks of the Dakar Rally, crossing some of the most remote and demanding territories on the planet. Desert after desert, the motorcycle became home, the tent became shelter, and self-reliance became essential.
From endless sand to rocky pistes, from extreme heat to long nights under the stars, this mission was not only about distance — it was about endurance, commitment and belief.
Beyond T7nnis was taken far beyond the map, into places where access is limited, resources are scarce and tennis had never arrived before.
This was not a race. It was a journey of impact, carried by one motorcycle, one rider, and a clear purpose.
Chapter 1 — Before the departure
Every journey starts before the first kilometer.
At Speedcity, the Yamaha Ténéré 700 was transformed for the journey ahead.Fuel capacity increased from 16 litres to 36.4 litres, turning the bike into a true long-distance desert machine — built for autonomy, reliability and range.
Preparing the bike, organizing the luggage, choosing what to take and accepting what must stay behind. Rackets, balls and gear found their place. The goal was simple: follow the Dakar routes and take tennis further.
Chapter 2 — The road calls
Before the desert, there are goodbyes.
Family. Friends. Familiar places. Moments filled with emotion, support and silence, knowing that the road ahead would be long and uncertain.
Chapter 3 — Morocco: From Cities to the Atlas
Morocco welcomed the project with open arms.
Visits to tennis clubs in Rabat and Casablanca led to new friendships and shared visions for the sport.
Soon after, the journey turned east, crossing the Atlas Mountains toward Erfoud.
Along the way, the rhythm of the Rallye du Maroc could be felt up close, dust, machines and the spirit of adventure echoing through the landscape.
Chapter 4 — Where tennis happens
Tennis does not need stadiums.
It happens wherever curiosity appears, in villages, abandoned courts, improvised spaces and unexpected encounters.
This chapter captures the moments where rackets met hands for the first time and play began naturally.
Simple places. Real impact.
Chapter 5 — The Ocean, One Last Time
Before heading deep south, the road returned briefly to the coast.
Reuniting with friends near Plage Blanche, this chapter includes a special moment, the donation of a Beach Tennis kit, creating new possibilities where sand meets the Atlantic.
A final glance at the ocean before the desert called again.
Chapter 6 — Living with Less
South of Morocco/Western Sahara, life simplifies.
Fewer resources. Fewer comforts. More focus. More presence.
This chapter reflects the essence of traveling light, physically and mentally, adapting to scarcity and embracing simplicity.
Chapter 7 — The Vastness of Mauritania
Mauritania unfolds in silence and scale.
The journey followed the desert alongside the legendary Iron Ore Train, crossed the Adrar region, and reached historic places like Chinguetti and Ouadane.
At its heart, an extraordinary achievement: reaching the center of Guelb er Richat, the Eye of the Sahara, a place few ever see, reached through sand, stone and navigation by instinct.
Chapter 8 — Senegal: Crossing Borders
From Mauritania into Senegal, the landscape changes.
The route crossed the Diawling National Park, where water, wildlife and earth blend into a fragile ecosystem.
A transition not just of geography, but of rhythm and atmosphere.
Chapter 9 — Dakar
Dakar is more than a destination.
It represents the end of a dream shared by many, reaching the Atlantic after crossing deserts, pistes and borders.
An arrival filled with emotion, reflection and gratitude.
Chapter 10 — Further South
The journey did not stop in Dakar.
The route continued south through Senegal, skirting The Gambia, following pistes along the Casamance River, and finally reaching the coast at Cap Skirring.
Red earth, jungle paths, palm trees and open beaches, a different Africa, equally powerful.
Chapter 11 — Northbound
At a certain point, the compass turns north.
The return journey began, long days riding along the coast, carrying memories, fatigue and fulfillment.
The road home is never the same road back.
Chapter 12 — Impact
Beyond the kilometres, the impact remains.
Thanks to clubs, partners and individual donors, this mission delivered:
26 tennis rackets
180 tennis balls
1 Beach Tennis kit (rackets, balls, net and posts)
Seeds were planted, not promises, but possibilities.
Chapter 13 — Beyond the Journey
Beyond T7nnis does not end with this mission.
It evolves. It adapts. It continues.
Because the journey is not just about places, it’s about connection, access and purpose.
This was only the beginning.
