LUXURYLUXURY MAGAZINE SPRING 2019 GETAWAYS ompleting a personal Grand Slam by C attending the four major international tennis tournaments—the Australian Open, Roland-Garros (the French Open), Wimbledon, and the US Open—is one thing. Playing the game with Grand Slam legends is another. Loosely dubbed “tennis fantasy camps,” these multiday events combine on-court instruction with professional athletes, clinics with former world No. 1 players, TENNIS, ANYONE? pro-am tournaments, and R&R NOTHING MATCHES THE THRILL OF YOUR OWN RACQUET-TO-RACQUET in Switzerland and Texas, the ENCOUNTERS, ON COURT AND OFF, WITH CURRENT AND FORMER CHAMPIONS. Caribbean and Hawaii. w by Roger Cox Jay Reilly/Aurora Photos Jay Reilly/Aurora 78 Spring 2019 Spring 2019 79 THE HILL COUNTRY WITH HALL OF FAMERS Tennis Fantasies ● John Newcombe Tennis Ranch, New Braunfels, Texas ach October, former world No. 1 their captains (74-year-old Newcombe, incorporates the same team-competition player John Newcombe gathers Stolle, Emmo, and Davidson) and a format, amenities, and on- and off-court Ehis former rivals and cohorts to supporting cast of other world-class pros opportunities to hang out with the mix with a hundred or so enthusiastic, provide pointers and pep talks. legends (though without the trash talk, racquet-wielding men at Newcombe’s Woven into the week’s fabric are locker-room shenanigans, and swag). 28-court Texas Hill Country tennis ranch lectures and demonstrations of strokes, From $4,945/person for five nights, all- THE ALPS WITH AN AUSSIE for five days of coaching, competition, instructional clinics, and one-on-one inclusive in October; from $1,470/person reminiscences, camaraderie, banter, coaching sessions from each of the for three nights, all-inclusive in March; Roy Emerson Tennis Weeks ● Gstaad Palace, Gstaad, Switzerland photo ops, locker-room humor, and legends. After dinner in the Billabong tennisfantasies.net w efore Roger Federer won more the court. Everyone benefits from his world-class trash talk. bar, a panel of these tennis greats Grand Slam singles titles than any personal attention and acerbic asides: The cast comes straight from the reminisce about fabled matches, Davis This page: In addition to 28 courts, male player in history, he topped “Quite a few of you were working on who’s who of tennis legends, including Cup ties, hated opponents, or the B the John Newcombe Tennis Ranch Pete Sampras’ record, who bested how to hit a forehand with the least Roy “Emmo” Emerson, Rod Laver, current crop of players, ever exposing features a large pool and spa. the count of Australian Roy “Emmo” amount of footwork,” he’ll joke. Fred Stolle, and Owen Davidson—all their indefatigable devotion to the Opposite: Opened in 1913, the iconic Emerson—record holder for a whopping Campers are grouped by level inductees into the International Hall of game, and each other. Gstaad Palace offers breathtaking 33 years. And that’s not to mention (never more than four to a court) and, Fame. Participants, who range in age There is also a co-ed Tennis Fantasies views of the Swiss Alps and red-clay Emmo’s success at doubles, which in addition to Emmo, work with a from 20 to 80, are drafted onto teams weekend in early March with Newcombe, court instruction with Australian brings his Grand Slam count up team of talented, often multilingual and compete for pride and end-of-week Emmo, Davidson, and Ross Case that is legend Roy “Emmo” Emerson. to 28; still higher than anyone else’s pros, usually at least one of whom bragging rights in singles and doubles as open to singles, couples, and groups. It total, ever. competed on the tour. The camaraderie Now you can find the 82-year-old continues off court as Emmo, his wife legend in Gstaad, Switzerland, for six or Joy, and the teaching staff join guests seven weeks each summer hosting an nightly for four-course feasts. During international gathering of enthusiastic a break midweek for a catered picnic amateurs drawn to the red-clay courts at amid jagged peaks at a high-alpine the historic hotel Gstaad Palace. Emmo dairy farm, owner Ruedi Wehren often fell for the alpine valley and turreted, entertains on the accordion as his family-run hotel in the 1960s, when it wife, Helen, serves their homemade was the site of the Swiss Championships cheeses. The week concludes with a (now the Swiss Open), a tournament farewell feast capped by a full-throated he won five times. Slim, quick, and Emmo leading everyone in the Aussie athletic while on the tour, the 6-foot-tall standard “Waltzing Matilda.” From player is hampered by bad knees, but $4,200/person for six nights, including nonetheless shows up for every one of meals and five hours of tennis daily. the five-hour days when campers are on royemersontennisweeks.com (2) Weeks Opposite Page: Courtesy Roy Emerson Tennis Fantasies; istock/nycshooter. Courtesy Tennis Top: From 80 Spring 2019 Spring 2019 81 THE BVI WITH CELEBRITY PROS Manuka Doctor Necker Cup ● Necker Island, British Virgin Islands illionaire entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson hosts this exclusive pro-am Btournament on his private island and invites a who’s who of current and former HOME-COURT ADVANTAGE WTA and ATP pros as participants (the cast has included Björn Borg, Need something more flexible? to make it fun. The most basic Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Martina Former world No. 1 and eight- booking includes two 60-minute Navratilova, and the Bryan brothers). On time Grand Slam champion clinics and packages that can be Necker as much to chill as to compete, Mats Wilander will come to you, customized to add an exhibition, the stars mingle with guests on and pulling up in his 37-foot RV and private lessons, and social time off the court, and for the select group setting up shop either at your over lunch or dinner. of guests who sign up to play in the local club or on a private court. Alternatively, if you’re tournament, the connections become Co-piloted by Cameron attending the Australian Open, even tighter. Clockwise from above left: A doubles match at the Lickle, who served as a nuclear Roland-Garros, or the US Open, Each pro takes up to two guests Necker Cup; Sir Richard Branson and friends; officer and also played No. 1 Wilander can be available there under his or her wing and plays with or Necker Island’s beach pool; Mats Wilander’s for the US Naval Academy, coaches them in a team competition traveling tennis clinic; Wilander as coach; serving Wilander on Wheels takes to that is handicapped in a way to make it it up; Necker Island’s beach pavilion tennis court. the road 40–50 times a year, fun for every level of player. Meanwhile, delivering a choreographed those unable to secure a slot in the repertoire of drills that reflect tournament can opt for a tennis or golf Wilander’s philosophy that camp. Everyone gathers on the final “tennis is a running game, not afternoon for the Necker Cup finals and a hitting game.” A speedy and a pro exhibition; a charity dinner; and dogged back-courter in his early an auction followed by the spirited End career, Wilander emphasizes of the World party headlined in years footwork, believing that learning past by Kenny Chesney, Jamie Foxx, and to move pays greater dividends Jimmy Buffett. than focusing on technique. Be for one-hour sessions. Lickle Cup participants stay in the Great forewarned: These are not hit- has an affiliation with several House on Necker Island or on nearby and-giggle sessions. A typical other world-class pros—the Moskito Island and, tennis courts aside, drill sends campers scrambling feisty former world No. 1 Jimmy have access to the beach, pool, water to retrieve a wide feed then Connors among them—who can sports, a zip line, and massages. Tennis racing to get back in position for be booked individually. From and golf campers spend one day on yet another nearly unreachable $7,000 for two 60-minute sessions Necker enjoying the island’s amenities, ball. It sounds demanding yet for up to eight participants; and otherwise have the run of Oil Nut this hardworking duo manages wilanderonwheels.com w Bay and the boutique yacht SeaDream II anchored offshore to host overnights and meals. Proceeds from the weekend and auction fund Virgin Unite (rebuilding the BVI in the wake of recent hurricanes) and the National Tennis Foundation. From $122,000/couple for five nights, all- inclusive for the Necker Cup Experience, which includes one entry to the Necker Cup main draw, an opportunity to partner with the celebrity players and pros, and lodging on Necker or Moskito Islands; from $19,995/couple for five nights, all-inclusive for the Tennis/ Golf Camp Experience, which includes lodging aboard the SeaDream II yacht; Courtesy Wilander Top: Aim Photography; Necker Cup/Visual Eye Photography (3). Opposite Page, From Left: Necker Cup/Take Top Courtesy Images Clockwise From Di Carlo Darsa/Age Fotostock on Wheels (2); Sandro neckercup.com 82 Spring 2019 Spring 2019 83 THE CARIBBEAN WITH A GRAND SLAM TRIO Antigua Tennis Week ● Curtain Bluff, Antigua he Caribbean’s longest-running tennis festival takes place each T spring at Curtain Bluff, the 72-room hideaway on Antigua’s southwestern coast. What began as a professional tournament in 1975 has morphed into Antigua Tennis Week, when an international crowd of 40 or so jets in to play with and learn from former World No. 1 Fred Stolle and two other amiable Aussies: Owen “Davo” Davidson and Ross Case.