sign in sign up
<<
Home , Annabel Croft, Kooyong Classic, Sergio Casal, Stefanos Tsitsipas

PERFECT MATCH On the Go BEREFT AT THE THOUGHT OF LEAVING YOUR RACQUET BEHIND ON A HOLIDAY? OR SEEKING OUT A DESTINATION SPECIFICALLY FOR IMPROVING YOUR STROKE? FROM PHUKET TO FLORIDA AND MANY POINTS IN BETWEEN, KENT OSWALD HAS ALL THE ANSWERS © STANGLWIRT ©

34 NetJets TENNIS IS NOT JUST THE GAME OF A LIFETIME, IT IS THE GAME FOR THIS LIFETIME.

Personalities have never been more engaging nor has play ever been so great – at every level. So it makes sense that the options for players to improve their games have never been wider, offering the opportunity around the globe – and in considerable comfort – to whack the fuzzy yellow balls sometimes with anger, but more often with an internal and external sense that all is right with the world.

The Indulgent Game Among the most cossetting options for combining learning and living is Carlisle Bay, Antigua (carlisle-bay.com), where you reside in one of 87 ocean-view suites and, as part of various tennis packages on the hard or artificial grass courts, take part in individual or group instruction as well as a complimentary round of cardio-tennis. Off-court options include the award-winning Blue Spa to restore both body and mind. An equally sumptuous choice is the Caribbean neighbour Four Seasons Resort Nevis (fourseasons.com/nevis), which lolls between silky sands and a lush sanctuary dominated by centuries-dormant volcano Nevis Peak. Peter Burwash International manages play on the clay, hard and artificial grass courts, while downtime attractions include golf on a Robert Trent Jones II-designed course, reef-diving expeditions and hikes to the peak with tropical birds and monkeys as guides. Those wishing to experience a slice of tennis heaven with a European point- of-view should consider Stanglwirt (stanglwirt. com) in Tyrol, Austria. Tracing its hospitality history across four centuries, the eco-friendly resort sources food from its own 100ha farm, and the hostelry presents year-round sporting opportunities, including, against an Alpine background, special tennis packages on indoor carpet and outdoor clay courts, also managed by Burwash, which has been servicing the hotel for more than 40 years. To the southwest, with a 100-plus year history as an opulent retreat, as well as connections to the local ATP and WTA tournaments, and its own “tennis and mountain week” programme for younger players, the Swiss Doubling up Gstaad Palace (palace.ch) puts visitors in touch The Alpine backdrop with tennis royalty as Australian legend Roy at Stanglwirt beautifully complements the Emerson continues a four decades-long summer outstanding facilities residence for a week at a time. In addition to the for tennis courts, the spa, the exceptional dining and the hotel’s other allures, why not helicopter to the >

Antigua V C Bird International to Carlisle Bay 13miles/21km; Vance W Amory International to Four Seasons Nevis 6miles/9km; Salzburg to Stanglwirt 45miles/73km; Bern to Gstaad Palace 50miles/81km 35 NetJets V Matterhorn to partake of a champagne aperitif Peak performance and regionally inspired lunch on a 3,000m-high Games at the Four glacier. Changing altitude but not the attitude Seasons Nevis take place in the shadow of a that creates special moments, a stay at the Hotel dormant volcano du Cap-Eden-Roc (oetkercollection.com) on the V French Riviera, leaves every guest dusted with Showing the way movie-star sparkle. There are glamorously Among the many ex- appointed rooms or seaside cabanas, spa professionals providing expertise for willing pupils treatments, yoga classes, a heated salt-water are, from top: former US infinity pool and five red-clay courts on which Open and Wimbledon to compete or take top-flight instruction amid champion ; master of clay Juan Carlos pines, palms and olive trees. Over in Marrakech, Ferrero; and doubles behind its earthy pink pisé-deterre walls, palatial specialists Emilio Sánchez Vicario and Sergio Casal Amanjena (amanjena.com) possesses a pair of decorous courts, surrounded by flowering trees and complemented by its monumental mise en scène, comprising 32 pavilions and seven maisons. For those preferring the more raucous Nice Côte d’Azur to Hotel Atlantic Ocean, the Ritz-Carlton, Abama Cap-Eden-Roc: 12miles/20km; (ritzcarlton.com/abama), in the Canary Marrakech to Amanjena: Islands, offers instruction and play thanks to 8miles/13km; Tenerife South to Ritz-Carlton, Abama: the Tennis Academy, which is 19miles/31km; Phuket joined by two Michelin-starred restaurants, one International to Thanyapura Basque, one Japanese Fusion, a Dave Thomas- 8miles/13km; Bali Ngurah Rai designed championship golf course and a spa International to Mulia, Nusa Dua: inspired by the local terrain and ingredients. A 10miles/16km; -El Prat: very different island experience is found at the to Academia Sánchez-Casal 4miles/ Thanyapura (thanyapura.com), on Thailand’s 7km; Alicante Airport to JC Phuket, with its paradisiacal combination Ferrero-Equelite Tennis Academy: of beaches, rainforest, mountains, spa, hotel, 42miles/67km; Alicante Airport to spiritual wellness and physical training centre. La Manga Club: 66miles/106km; There is instruction and play for adults, a year- Cannes-Mandelieu Airport to round tennis academy for juniors and free Mouratoglou Tennis Academy:

cardio tennis classes. Also in Southeast Asia is 11miles/18km © FOUR SEASONS NEVIS, GETTY IMAGES (3)

36 NetJets COURT PILGRIMAGES

The International Tennis Hall of Fame Museum (tennisfame.com) in Newport, Rhode Island connects the game’s past and present. Home to the first US national championships and situated in a Charles McKim-designed Gilded Age club, the museum displays over 1,900 artefacts, and the grass courts are put to use by visitors and club members as well as for a post-Wimbledon tournament. Oceans Bali’s Mulia, Mulia Resort & Villas (themulia.com/ Former British No 1s, and Jo away in Victoria, bali) located in the southern part of the island Durie, who together claimed Wimbledon and the Kooyong Lawn in Nusa Dua. The resort accommodates with mixed doubles titles, have Tennis Club (kooyong. lagoon rooms, tropical gardens, spa experiences helped players with their strokes, and the club com.au) serves and two hard courts put to use by guests in hosts junior academies, high-performance as the spiritual complimentary clinics and lessons. tutorials and weekend and weekday adult home of Australian tennis. Reaching programmes. The Mouratoglou Tennis Academy out to the tennis Channelling a Championship (mouratoglou.com), sitting between Monaco community beyond For those keen to win their club cup, a stint at and Cannes, encourages a holistic approach to its membership, a serious academy can be even more appealing training, offering amenities often associated the club hosts the than any number of Michelin-starred meals. more with a resort than a school, though its Kooyong Classic each January as a warm- The Academia Sánchez-Casal (sanchez-casal. status as current European base for Serena up for the Australian com) opened in Barcelona in 1998 by the great Williams as well as up-and-comers like the Open. Finally, while Spanish doubles team of Emilio Sánchez 20-year-old Greek sensation , no single country can Vicario and Sergio Casal, and has served as the and 14-year-old junior winner claim full ownership, training ground for and Svetlana Cori Gauff should prove its seriousness. In it is hard not to Kuznetsova, among others. There are now addition to the year-round academy, there are think of Britain as one of the game’s satellites in Nanjing, China, and Naples, Florida, junior and adult camps as well as a programme parents. A journey and in addition to a year-round academy for to train coaches. Saddlebrook Tennis Academy to the mothership, high performing juniors, ASC offers weekly (saddlebrook.com/tampa-tennis) traces its roots the National Tennis programmes for adults and families, as well as to the great Australian tennis coach Harry Centre (lta.org.uk/ summer and holiday camps. In Alicante, Spain, Hopman, and alumni include and about-the-lta/national- the JC Ferrero-Equelite Tennis Academy (equelite. . Current pros in residence in tennis-centre/), which opened in 2007 in com) is led by the former World No 1, 2003 Tampa, Florida are and Alexander Roehampton at a French Open champion and winner. Zverev, with grounds that include golf and spa cost of £40 million, Year-long programmes include those for high- options, as well as 45 courts of all can be made as part performance juniors, and there are weekly and surfaces. Also with Hall of Fame sheen is the of individual or team weekend adult camps for individuals and groups Smith Stearns Tennis Academy (smithstearns. training, or to watch Wimbledon qualifying on a campus that features swimming pools, a com), part of the Sea Pines Resort on Hilton tournaments. golf course and putting greens. La Manga Club Head Island in South Carolina. It is headed (lamangaclub.com), a holiday and sports resort by former world No 1 and Wimbledon and in Cartagena, provides instruction on clay, hard US Open champ Stan Smith and offers team and artificial grass courts, and a “junior club” training as well as boot camps and weekend or accepting children as young as three months. full-week sessions for adults and juniors. Q

37 NetJets 38

NetJets The Timetable Tennis Center: 17miles/28km together in1998. 2013, claimedjuniorFed Cup who won Fed Cupforin Italy Pennetta andRoberta Vinci, Did you know? a row. girls‘ titlefor secondyear in the USarefightingtotake the boys‘ champions, while Last time: with Spainin2002. have included 16 since1985. Past winners country’s bestplayers under Who: itftennis.com Paribas/Budapest Junior Fed Cupby BNP Junior Davis Cupand German Julia Görges took took Görges Julia German but tour to the returned Last time: 2001. and 1997 fiveclaimed titles between Yevgenyfavourite Kafelnikov Home event. women’s indoor Who: kremlincup.ru Kremlin Cup/Moscow 25-30 SEPTEMBER 2018 SEPTEMBER 25-30 13-21 OCTOBER 13-21 Budapest Airport toNational BudapestAirport Combined men’s and Combined Featuring every SAVE THEDATE Czech Republic are Sharapova Maria Flavia Fiera Milano: 7miles/12km 18miles/30km toOlympicStadium:Airport Nitto ATP finals in 2017. in ATP finals Nitto and the main season-ending event Gen Next the both for qualified Zverev Alexander know? you Did Russia, in the final. of Rublev, Andrey 1 seed, No the the off saw Chung Korea’s Hyeon South event, Last time: sets). game first-to-four (eg, rules “non-traditional” features It card. wild one men’s the 21 on tour, with Who: atpworldtour.com Finals/Milan ATP Gen Next tennis power.tennis Russian emergence as sparked it Perestroika, of event asignifying as know? you Did final. the in Kasatkina the title, defeating Daria 6-10 NOVEMBER Milan Linate Airport to MilanLinate Airport MoscowSheremetyevo Top seven pros under Top under pros seven In the inaugural inaugural the In Germany’s Germany’s Begun Begun

and Bautista Roberto and Wozniacki Caroline defeated Last time: the tennis. as fans many as in draws though the vibrant nightlife Australian warm-up, Open an as acts that tournament men’sfor women’s and Who: asbclassic.co.nz ASB Classic/Auckland, event. ATPnew team in2019 with replaced to be likely is tournament the years, 30 past the for favourite know? you Did Switzerland. for trophy the to claim Bencic Belinda with teamed Last time: match doubles mixed a sexes and both for singles of consisting ties with countries eight from teams Who: hopmancup.com Cup/Perth Hopman Mastercard 31 DECEMBER -12JANUARY DECEMBER 31 2019 5 JANUARY - DECEMBER 29 High-class field High-class Male and female Julia Görges Görges Julia A fan Afan Mundo Imperial: 5miles/8km toPrincess Airport to the 1920s. to the back history its traces event, the for Tennis venue Centre, know? you Did Potro. del Martín Juan beat claimed multiple titles. claimed all have Venus Williams and Nadal, Muster, Rafael know: you Did trophy. pear silver giant winner’s Potro del the claimed Martín time: Last 2018 draw. the in men ten top ofworld’s seven with tournaments, tennis America’s most prestigious Latin holds destination Who: abiertomexicanodetenis.com Acapulco Mexicano/ Abierto 25 FEBRUARY -2MARCH FEBRUARY 25 AcapulcoInternational The renowned beach beach renowned The Argentinian Juan Thomas The ASB ASB The

GETTY IMAGES (4) A GLOBAL SHORTLIST OF TOURNAMENTS WHERE THE ON-COURT ACTION IS RIVALLED BY THE OFF-COURT ALLURES

14-21 JULY 4-17 MARCH Last time: There is no finer and mosaics. clay court expert than Rafael BNP Paribas Open/ Rome Ciampino Airport to Foro SkiStar / Nadal, of course, and he Bastad Indian Wells, California Italico: 22miles/35km claimed his 11th title here swedishopen.org bnpparibasopen.com this year. Who: The tournament Did you know: The Who: A lot of happy bought by billionaire by Larry tournament dates back to professionals – ATP Players Ellison of Oracle in 2009 for 1897, but the 1981 result voted it their favourite $100 million attracts the best stands out – tournament 11 years in a row. of the best from both sexes. and finished Last time: Last time: Del Potro (again) as co-champs (or co-runners claimed his seventh ATP title – and won the up) due to rain. with five of his triumphs taking respective 2018 finals. Novak place in the month of July. Djokovic and Roger Federer Nice Côte d’Azur Airport to Did you know: Play takes Country Club: have each won five times place at a seaside resort at a 22miles/35km Did you know: Often time of year when darkness referred to as the fifth slam, lasts only a few hours. with respect to the opulence Ängelholm Airpor to Bastad of the grounds as well as the Tennis Stadium: 14miles/23km depth of the draw.

Palm Springs International Airport to Indian Wells Tennis 25-29 JUNE Garden: 16miles/26km The Boodles/Stoke Park, Buckinghamshire theboodles.com Who: Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and have all made this exhibition part of their pre-Wimbledon preparation. Last time: Results matter little compared to enjoying 6-19 MAY the grounds that date back Internazionali BNL d‘Italia/ to the Domesday Book, with Rome the current club located amid internazionalibnlditalia.com 1.2sq km of parkland, lakes, AUGUST gardens and monuments. Who: A prestigious title Odlum Brown VanOpen/ Did you know: Attendance and glamorous tour stop Vancouver is limited to 1,900 per day featuring high-end fashion, vanopen.com and seats are all within a few cuisine and music along with 13-21 APRIL metres of the courts. Who: One of North world‘s top players of both America’s most prominent Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters/ sexes. London Heathrow Airport to “minor league” professional Roquebrune-Cap-Martin Last time: Nadal inevitably Stoke Park: 10miles /16km tournaments, past champions montecarlotennismasters.com claimed his eighth title in include Maria Sharapova, the men‘s; Who: The red clay and the and of Ukraine retained her blue Mediterranean Johanna Konta. women‘s crown. expanding into the distance, Did you know: Host club Did you know: Foro Italico perhaps the world’s most Hollyburn is set on a forested is a sports complex built of gorgeous tennis setting, hillside with spectacular views massive concrete, marble bring in the top players. across Vancouver GETTY IMAGES (2), ANDY ROWLAND / IMAGO / PRIME MEDIA IMAGES, ZUMA PRESS / ALAMY

39 NetJets