Rafa Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz and Andy Murray all thrived on their experience but behind the glamorous stories of success, what’s life really like for the thousands of aspiring professionals who find themselves living and learning at a tennis academy?

When asked to think about a tennis academy, if your imagination conjures up a scene of endless rows of tennis courts with children being shouted at by a muscular taskmaster in 100% Floridian humidity, then you aren’t alone. And maybe a few decades ago you might have found places similar to that as the whole industry behind producing tennis players was in its infancy, but fast forward to the present day and, as we’ve discovered, tennis academies aren’t just about manufacturing the next World No.1. They offer a holistic focus on an alternative path to a fulfilling life for young adults wanting to blend their passion for the sport with an education and life experiences they wouldn’t find at home.

The Ljubicic Tennis Academy in Croatia and the Rush Premier Sports academy in Florida, USA, are examples of modern day, highly professional tennis academies who’s objective is to offer young players the structure and resources they need on a full time basis to achieve their goals in the sport.

Tennis academy’s come with a full support team

Helping the player to achieve what they want, rather than what someone else thinks they should be able to achieve, is a theme that stands out from our discussions with everyone involved at both these academies.

In fact every academy we’ve researched seems at pains to stress that it’s about guiding, mentoring and channeling the player’s passion towards a carefully defined goal that is their focus. Obviously these organisations have to be run as profitable businesses hence why they won’t say, “we’ll make you the next Wimbledon champion”, as that would severely reduce their pool of potential customers, but it’s encouraging to see that the focus seems to be on helping the player achieve what’s best for them rather than a pre-conceived measure of success.

Colton trains under the watchful eye of Gabe Jaramillo at the RPS academy. He told us he “wanted to improve as fast as possible and the number of high-level players I could train with every day at an academy made it a no-brainer if I wanted to get better”. Jaramillo has a CV boasting the likes of Andre Agassi, Maria Sharapova and Pete Sampras but, whilst the Rush Premier Sports philosophy is focussed on competition, they are also very proud that 100% of their students have received an athletic or academic scholarship to an American University.

This focus on helping students develop themselves not just as a tennis player but with skills and experiences they can call on throughout their lives is something the Ljubicic Academy are also at pains to stress. “The spirit of our academy is founded on instilling strong values, building character, and fostering a passion for the sport.”

Luna Vujović is a 13 year old Serbian who’s been training and living at the Ljubicic Academy, on the secluded, picturesque Adriatic island of Veli Losinj, for the past 2 years.

Luna, the current 14U European champion, says she didn’t have any expectations before joining the academy but very quickly started seeing the benefits in her game and results. She says for anyone considering joining a tennis academy, “expect a lot of hard work, discipline, sacrifice but also to meet a lot of new friends and to grow as a player and as a person.”

These sentiments are backed by the ccademy themselves. “As Luna’s journey unfolds, we stand by her side, supporting her every step of the way. Her success shines a bright light on Ljubicic Tennis Academy’s commitment to nurturing talent and creating a supportive environment where young players can thrive and reach their full potential.”

Day to day at a tennis academy

Life at an academy revolves around tennis and the multiple facets of training that are all necessary to help create a modern day professional tennis player. Everything from technique, psychology, diet, cardiovascular fitness, strength and agility are covered in minute detail using programmes that are specifically designed for each individual. Then education has to be fitted into a very busy and structured daily routine.

“Living full time at an academy is not an easy task. You miss your family and friends, you miss your country, and you even miss your food. However, when you made a commitment to come to the academy to train and get an education that will open the doors in the future to what your goals are, the task become part of the day to day achievement” says Giorgio, another student at the RPS set up in Florida.

No-one is on their own at an academy

Originally from Canada, Giorgio says that the decision to attend was taken jointly by him and his parents but it was the reputation of academy founder Jaramillo that made up their minds. “Gabe is a very well known tennis coach and both my parents and I wanted to be trained with the best coach and methodology that has proven to make Champions.”

Krish, another of Jaramillo’s students points out that managing the different elements of academy life has been his biggest challenge. “At first it was to keep up with my grades (that was hardest) but also staying on track with my tennis progress as well. At first it was hard to balance everything that was going on all at once, with grades, tennis and my personal life but after a while I got the hang of it and everything started to get easier.”

Educational requirements are either delivered through a traditional ‘bricks and mortar’ on-site school, as in the case of the RPS Academy who have 18 teaches working full time, or via online learning which is the model preferred by the Ljubicic Academy.

Seelenbinder is a parent of a child attending the Ljubicic Academy, founded by World No.3 and former coach to Roger Federer, Ivan Ljubicic.

Asked for a parents point of view on the changes they’ve seen in their child since joining the academy, she said,

“The most positive experiences revolve around the supportive and nurturing environment. Seeing our child’s growth and development as a player has been incredibly rewarding. The academy has not only honed his skills but also instilled a sense of discipline and resilience in him. Additionally, the camaraderie and friendships that our child has formed with fellow aspiring tennis players have been heartwarming. The academy fosters a sense of community and belonging, which has been beneficial for his social development.

“Furthermore, the opportunities to participate in various international tournaments have been an invaluable experience. These have allowed our child to test his skills against a diverse range of players and have also provided us with cherished memories as we travel and support him together as a family.

“Overall, the academy has been a place where our child’s passion for tennis has been nurtured and celebrated, and the experiences we’ve had there have been overwhelmingly positive.”

Tennis academy commitment

A full year as a residential student at the Croatian Ljubicic Academy costs around €50,000 which includes everything from tennis coaching & training, fitness work, accommodation, meals and physiotherapy with a similar package at the Rush Premier Sports academy in the USA costing around $65,000.

Hard work is the order of the day

Not all players pay the full amount as academies normally have scholarship programs which offer discounted rates depending on the circumstances of each student.

The decision to attend an academy, especially in a different country, is obviously one that imposes immense lifestyle changes on the child and the family.

“We took this decision as a family including our child which meant a significant change for our family dynamics. I live with my son full-time at the academy (in Croatia) to support his training, while my husband remains at home (in Africa) to manage his business activities. He visits us whenever possible and travels with us to various tournaments throughout Europe. This arrangement ensures that our son has the support he needs while also maintaining continuity in his training and familial connections.” says one parent.

Making the decision to join a tennis academy

As you’d expect, when we asked the question as to how the family made the decision to make the step into full time academy life and how they chose the specific academy the answers were wide ranging covering every factor that such a decision involves.

Family life can be dramatically changed

One parent of a child at the Ivan Ljubicic owned academy said, “Our advice would be to thoroughly research and evaluate the academy’s offerings, ethos, and track record. Ensure that the academy aligns with your child’s goals and has a supportive environment conducive to growth.

“Consider the logistical and emotional aspects of such a commitment. Be prepared for changes in family dynamics, especially if it involves relocating or spending extended periods away from home. Ensure that there is a balance between tennis, academics, and personal development.

“Pay attention to the mental and physical well-being of your child. Intensive training can be demanding, so ensure that the academy provides adequate support in terms of coaching, physiotherapy, and mental health.”

Colton’s father, who’s been at the Gabe Jaramillo academy in Florida for the last two years, was more specific as to how to choose an academy. “I would send your child to the academy that can offer the most personalized development plan for your child. Smaller, boutique academies can offer better student-teacher ratios with more highly qualified coaches on every court (not just the top courts). I would find an academy that is big enough to have all the resources and a proven track record but is small enough so your child isn’t practicing on court 57. Then let the coaches do the work. Encourage your child through the tough days, there will be plenty of those, but over time, if you’re consistent with the coaching, your athlete will develop faster than at a larger academy that’s more focused on branding that truly developing players – look at Carlos Alcaraz.”

For more information about the Rush Premier Sports academy, Florida, USA, featured in this article visit their website

For more information about the Ljubicic Tennis Academy, Croatia, featured in this article visit their website

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He said he’d spend a year visiting the World’s greatest tennis tournaments, so Tennishead just had to go along for the ride! Tennis travel will never be the same again…

Prepare to immerse yourself in the world of a tennis travel super-fan as we accompany ‘The Tennis Traveller’ on a 12 month odyssey to attend 23 different tournaments across 4 continents…

Tennishead receives a lot of emails from aspiring tennis journalists and we try and reply to them all but unfortunately often the budding journo isn’t experienced enough or their tennis knowledge just isn’t up to our demanding standards, but there was something different about this email…

Hi Tennishead,

My goal is to fulfill the “ultimate tennis fans’ dream journey” by enjoying tournaments across four continents (Oceania>Asia>Europe>Africa) starting from the end of this year all the way into the 2024 August Olympics.

Any interest in me contributing a regular column and/or photos/video during my year-long journey and/or report on specific events during my trip?

Who am I? The ultimate sports fan, a US resident (sunny San Diego), I’ve enjoyed sporting events in 48 countries, six continents. I am also a sports writer. I have been a freelance sports travel writer for many years, including contributing in the past to NBCSports.com, ESPN.com, FOXSports.com, and MLB.com. And I’m not afraid of being in front of the camera.

How can I afford this trip? Never married, no children, and I’ve put all my income in rental properties so I can pursue my passion: sports and travel.

So what do you think?

Joe Connor

So we signed him up!

The 12 month plan

Starting in October 2023, Joe ‘The Tennis Traveller’ Connor will travel to 23 tournaments, attending a day’s play at each tournament as a fan and a tennis writer, recording the whole experience to be published through Tennishead’s various channels including ‘blog’ style articles for Tennishead.net and video blogs during each day’s tennis. Joe’s remit is to help you, the tennis fan, experience the unique buzz of attending a professional tennis tournament whilst getting to know the various countries and cities that host the biggest events on the annual tennis calendar.

Joe will give a fans perspective on each tournament highlighting the elements that make each experience different, whether that’s the city or country he’s in, the facilities on site at the event or just the fellow tennis fans he meets along the way, and Tennishead will capture all this wonderful content so that you can enjoy being part of Joe’s journey of tennis discovery.

To receive updates & special offers for travel and tickets to Slams/ATP/WTA events

join our ‘Tennis Travel’ newsletter here

The support team

‘The Tennis Traveller’ is very accomplished at getting himself to various sporting events in far flung corners of the globe but even he appreciates some support, which is why we are delighted to be joined on this journey by long time friend of Tennishead, David Cook, who’s the founder of tennis travel and ticketing provider Courtside Hospitality.

For many years David has been helping Tennishead readers and other tennis fans from around the World to visit their favourite tennis tournaments. David’s company can provide the full package for any tournament you wish including the best tickets for any court or day and bespoke travel packages to suit your every need.

David will be using his expertise to make sure ‘The Tennis Travellers’ 12 month’s go as smoothly as possible so we’d like to say a big thanks to Courtside Hospitality.

To book your own tennis tournament travel adventure please contact David at CourtsideHospitality.com.

Win the trip of a lifetime and follow in ‘The Tennis Traveller’s’ footsteps

Now it’s your chance to win an incredible prize for 2 people to attend the Miami Open ATP/WTA tennis tournament in March 2024. Simply enter your details in our exclusive prize draw and keep your fingers crossed. But everyone’s a winner as all entrants receive the current issue of Tennishead magazine for free.

This incredible prize package includes:

• 2 Nights at the 5* JW Marriot Marquis Hotel, Miami staying in a King Room with breakfast. Check-In: Thursday 14th March 2024, Check-Out: Saturday 16th March 2024
• 2 x Lower Tier tickets for Friday 15th March 2024 to watch both Men’s Singles Semi Finals (Day & Evening sessions)
• £500/$500 towards the cost of your flights

ENTRY IS OPEN NOW!

Follow ‘The Tennis Traveller’s’ Journey

We’ll be posting loads of content throughout the next 12 months so make sure to keep coming back here or keep an eye on the Tennishead Twitter, Facebook and YouTube as we’ll post all of his travel content immediately it’s ready.

‘The Tennis Traveller’s’ schedule

2023

October

• Hong Kong

November

• Pacific Games

December

• United Cup

2024

January

• Adelaide
• Australian Open

February

• Davis Cup (Tie TBC)
• Doha
• Dubai

April

• ATP 250 in Europe (Location TBC)
• Morocco or Portugal
• Monaco

May

• Rome
• French Open

June

• Mallorca
• Eastbourne
• Cinch
• Boodles Exhibition

July

• Wimbledon
• Swiss Open
• Austria or Croatia

August

• 2024 Olympics, Paris

September

• US Open

Book your own tennis travel package

To help you emulate ‘The Tennis Traveller’ we’ve teamed up with Courtside Hospitality to offer everyone the chance to enjoy tennis travel to any tournament of your choice. David, the founder of Courtside Hospitality, is an expert at arranging tickets for any tournament on the global tennis calendar plus he has relationships with all the best hotels in the tournament cities, so head over to CourtsideHospitality.com and quote discount code ‘THEAD5′ when you book for an exclusive 5% discount on all bookings. The get ready to enjoy yourselves.

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The post ‘The Tennis Traveller’: Accompany a super-fan’s 12 month voyage of discovery to the World’s best tennis tournaments appeared first on Tennishead.

Nestled on a pretty Croatian island, the Ivan Ljubicic Tennis Academy delivers quality tennis instruction in a relaxed environment whilst catering for all the needs of a family holiday, and more.

Family holidays can be stressful especially keeping children busy and happy whilst giving down time and fun for the parents. Which is why tennis holidays have grown in popularity in recent years as the carefully managed schedule of coaching and training helps keep the kids amused playing and learning a sport they love. It also gives the parents time to relax or to work on their own topspin serves. Then the rest of the day is yours to soak up some sun, splash around in the pool, explore the location or even play more tennis with the like minded tennis friends you will undoubtedly meet.

This all makes choosing the right destination even more important as you are reliant on someone else to make sure the reality lives up to the dream. But after a superb week in the professional but friendly company of their team, Tennishead can wholeheartedly guarantee that’s what you’ll find at the Ljubicic Tennis Academy in Croatia.

As soon as you arrive on Losinj, the small Adriatic island that is home to the Vitality Hotel Punta and the Ljubicic Tennis Academy, a weight is somehow lifted off your shoulders by the simply stunning setting, fresh air and friendly faces that great you.

The journey from Rijeka airport (1hr 50mins from London with Easyjet) to the hotel takes you on a 15 minute ferry from one island to the next then a 45 minute drive through the scenic hills and forests. If you are doing this trip for the first time then your hosts can arrange the transport with meet & greet chauffeur service but if you’ve done it before then hiring a car is just as easy.

The Vitality Hotel Punta is the main accommodation linked to the tennis club but there are other options that cater for different budgets. You could choose the 5 star Hotel Alhambra & Villa Augusta or make the most of the local campsites, but for our stay it seemed that nearly everyone playing tennis was staying at the Vitality Hotel Punta like us. Our family room included a large double bedroom, family bathroom, walk in wardrobe (very handy for sweaty tennis gear!) and an adjoining lounge with large sofa bed and private balcony offering views across the stunning coastline and millpond flat bay, quite a sight especially when the local family of dolphins appear.

The hotel is smart, modern and spacious with residents all eating their buffet breakfast and dinner in a shared dining room offering outdoor seating overlooking the swimming pools. The food was varied with plenty on offer for all tastes. Breakfast was a mix of fresh produce like fruit and pastries or a variety of cooked options like omelettes. Dinner changed every day with a range of classics on offer from fish, to meat, to pasta all accompanied by a delicious salad bar and range of desserts.

Outdoors the Vitality Hotel Punta features a range of stunning infinity pools all with breathtaking views across the sea to the other local islands. There is a heated indoor pool and a lovely pool-side restaurant & bar for lunch and snacks, but the numerous staff will happily bring your ice cream and drinks or food to your sun lounger. The outdoor facilities are well set up for children of all ages with a toddler’s splash pool and playground. A health spa on site offers all the usual treatments & services and was very popular.

The Ljubicic Tennis Academy, situated to the rear of the Vitality Hotel Punta, occupies 9 clay courts and 4 hard courts with indoor facilities. The clay is the main reason for visiting and the quality of the courts was quite incredible. On our trip none other than Marin Cilic had been practising there the previous week and he had commented that the courts were in better condition than on the ATP Tour, and from our experience it’s hard to question his judgment. The courts are built into the side of the hill so you get a view of the sea and the resort from most of them which all helps to add to the magical feel of the place. The tennis club includes a pretty, open air club house serving coffee, soft drinks and ice cream plus a pro shop for racket restrings and plenty of space to watch the tennis and relax.

Ivan Ljubicic shouldn’t need an introduction! A former world no.3, coach of Roger Federer from 2016 until the end of his playing days and now director of the French Tennis Federation’s “Ambition 2024” program, he’s long had a vision to establish a base for tennis players looking to step up their game and learn how to improve not only their playing style but also their winning mentality.

Our training started on Monday morning with a session in the superb, modern gym facilities. Here there are two main rooms plus an outdoor space. The Ljubicic Tennis Academy has exclusive use of one room which is where all tennis players spend the first 45 mins of each morning in the company of the academy’s resident fitness experts, two personal trainers and a physio therapist.

Every workout involves a professional warm up for the tennis muscles plus tennis specific strength and conditioning work all focused on helping your body be ready for the courts. Obviously the fitness is optional but everyone in our family enjoyed it and took part each day and it especially helps your body and mind prepare for the strenuous clay court tennis session that lies ahead.

Each full day in the academy tennis program includes two 90 minute on court sessions, one in the morning then one in the afternoon, book-ended by your fitness sessions. Players have the choice of a half day academy package or a full day and you can easily mix these up across your stay depending on how energetic you feel. A daily schedule is published via a WhatsApp group to keep you informed so if you want to change your schedule to include more or less of one activity you simply inform their team the day before.

You will be separated into groups of similar standards for your stay and the Academy pride themselves on a coach to player ration that never exceeds 1 coach to 3 pupils which is far better than most other tennis academies. In the past the Ljubicic Academy has solely focussed on elite junior players and they still have around 20-30 children playing nearly full time, but recently they’ve expanded their offering to help accommodate club players of all levels and juniors that are keen competition players but not elite.

The tennis coaches are fantastic and all fluent in English (and many other languages). They quickly work out a tennis program that’s going to suit you own requirements and are adept at balancing the need for technical improvement and hard work with the knowledge that you are on holiday and there to relax at the same time. The Croatian attitude seems to be that tennis should be an important part of your life and your holiday but it shouldn’t hinder you having fun and taking away fond memories.

At no point did any of our group feel pressured to perform on court or in the gym and the level of coaching and advice was perfectly suited to our levels of ability.

Clay court tennis knowledge is the order of the day so expect to learn about the subtle changes in technique needed to maximise your shots on this slow, high bouncing surface. The strategy of winning points on clay is also different to that of a hard court and your Ljubicic Academy coach will set up various drills and situations to help you understand what it takes to be a succesful clay court competitor.

For our group we found that a half day in the morning with the academy was enough then we made the most of the hotel facilities and perfect weather in the afternoon before a relaxed game of tennis with friends as the sun was setting and the temperature dropping, but many of the younger players took the full day academy option.

The rest of the island of Losinj island includes a small town within walking distance of the tennis called Veli Losinj which is picture-postcard beautiful and offers a range of harbour side restaurants and cafes plus a supermarket and a few small gift shops. The larger town of Mali Losinj is a 5 minute taxi ride or 20 minute stroll away along the coast. This has a larger range of more tourist focussed facilities all built around a lovely harbour full of pretty sail boats.

Our tennis holiday at the Vitality Hotel Punta and Ljubicic Tennis Academy was undoubtedly the best tennis holiday we’ve had as a family. Everything really was perfect, from the weather, to the tennis & hotel facilities, to the friendly, helpful staff but the most memorable part of the trip was enjoying the company of the fellow tennis players and the team that run the Ljubicic Academy. They went out of their way to make us feel welcome and at home and to help us enjoy playing tennis in their stunning surroundings. Our only regret was booking just one week’s holiday instead of two, but we won’t make that mistake next year.

The facts…

Travel

Located on the island of Losinj in Northern Croatia.

• 1200 plant species
• 260 days of sunshine annually
• Supreme air quality

Airports
Zagreb: ZGB 260km (from hotel/tennis)
Pula: PUY 153km
Rijeka: RJK 100km
Venice: VCE 350km
Trieste: RS 190km
Ljubljana: LJU 245km

From the airport to hotel/tennis academy on the island of Losinj

Either the Ljubicic Academy team can arrange transport from the airport via their own drivers or you can book a taxi (make sure to agree a price in advance) or hire a car. The ferry across to Losinj takes approximately 15 minutes with no advance bookings. Check the Ferry schedules.

Hotels and accommodation

The Ljubicic TennisAcademy can manage all aspects of your holiday including recommendations and booking for your accommodation.

• Vitality Hotel Punta: 4*, most popular for the tennis academy
• Hotel Alhambra & Villa Augusta: 5*, with it’s own tennis facilities also managed by Ljubicic Tennis Academy
• Hotel Bellevue: 5*
• Campsite

Tennis

Ljubicic Tennis Academy located at the Vitality Hotel Punta:

• 9 clay courts
• 4 hard courts
• Indoor courts (winter)
• Gym
• Fitness room
• Clubhouse & bar
• 6 full time tennis coaches
• 2 full time fitness coaches
• 1 full time physiotherapist

Sample tennis programs

Half day

Price: From €649 to €1,149 depending on the dates of your stay

Full day

Price: From €999 to €1,949 depending on the dates of your stay

Tennis academy options

Academy: Training for players on their path to professional or college level, includes option for internationally certified education.

Performance weeks: A base to train with some of the best coaches in the game using their winning method to put you on the right course.

Camps: Weekly junior program designed for achieving fast results and giving you the taste of what awaits at Ljubicic Tennis Academy as a base for your development.

Coaching: For adults and juniors in groups or individuals, booked in advance.

Book a court: If you just want to hit balls on perfect clay courts overlooking the sea!

Enquire about your holiday

Online bookings at LjubicicAcademy.com

Email the Ljubicic Academy: info@ljubicicacademy.com

Phone bookings and enquiries: Ivan Frleta, Sales Manager, +385 99 3291 574

Brochure download

Instagram: @ljubicic_tennis_academy

Tennishead reader discount for Ljubicic Tennis Academy and Hotel Punta Vitality

We were so impressed with our time at the Ljubicic Tennis Academy that we’ve agreed a partnership for all Tennishead readers to benefit from a 12.5% discount off the tennis academy costs (not the hotel) during 2023 . Simply mention TENNISHEAD when you make your enquiry.

And the offer for your stay at the Hotel Vitality Punta…

Book a tennis camp at the Ljubicic Academy and receive 15% off your hotel booking

Conditions:

• Valid only for Hotel Punta Vitality
• Valid only during 2023
• Valid only for hotel bookings made through Ljubicic Tennis Academy
• Valid only for clients who have booked one of the tennis programs at Ljubicic Tennis Academy
• 15% discount is valid on all prices seen on website of Hotel Punta Vitality for the desired period

To redeem the offer simply choose the desired period of tennis training and hotel accommodation and then contact the Ljubicic Academy team.

Ljubicic Tennis Academy works in partnership with…

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The post Ljubicic tennis academy review: “The perfect family tennis holiday” appeared first on Tennishead.

The stunning island resort of Veli Losinj, home of the tennis academy built by Croatian tennis legend Ivan Ljubicic, will host hundreds of keen senior tournament competitors from 5 – 11 June, 2023

The European Seniors Championships was hugely succesful when hosted for the first time by the Ljubicic Academy in 2022 so the tour has decided to return and Ivan Ljubicic himself, once coach to the great Roger Federer, is excited to welcome back the players.

“We are delighted to welcome the world’s best senior players back to Veli Losinj. The players had a great time last year both on and off the court and I’m looking forward to seeing some more excellent matches at the Academy.”

The event will be hosted by the Croatian Tennis Association, with special support from Croatian Tourist Board and the Kvarner County Tourism Office who have made this event one of the most attractive on tennis map.

Entries are still open for the tournament featuring all senior age categories from 30+ through to 90+.

To find our more about the facilities and resort read this Tennishead review or you can win yourself a holiday including Academy courses by entering our exclusive competition.

The organisers of the tournament have said, “Aside from the coveted European Championship gold medal and 1000 ITF World Tennis Masters Tour ranking points, other aspects make this ‘Open’ event highly attractive to participants. Off-court activities, welcome gifts, and the players’ party create a friendly and memorable atmosphere, while the chance to explore the stunning island of Losinj adds to the overall appeal for those looking to combine the competition with some tourism.”

Enter here.

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The post European Seniors tennis tour heads to Ljubicic Academy in Croatia appeared first on Tennishead.

Nestled in the small but perfectly formed Adriatic island of Lošinj, Ivan Ljubicic has created a stunning tennis holiday location that offers a blend of high quality coaching mixed with the best of that legendary Croatian hospitality.

Ivan Ljubicic reached No.3 in the world at a time when Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer were the top two, so he knows what it means to commit yourself to your passion and to squeeze the best out of everything you do. And it’s this commitment which seems to have translated into his Ljubicic Tennis Academy in Croatia.

Tennis holidays are becoming more and more popular, no doubt linked to the huge rise in tennis participation since the COVID pandemic that encouraged us all to play outdoor sports. Family tennis holidays work so well because players of different standards from the same family can learn to play in groups of their own level for a few hours each day before rejoining their loved ones to enjoy any delights offered off the tennis court.

According to Ljubicic, “the island of Losinj is a true hidden gem of the Mediterranean sea. It’s a place with a rich history, fascinating scenery and a turqoise sea. With more than 260 sunny days per year, it is perfect for an active lifestyle and devotion to sports. Due to specific climate conditions and supreme air quality, Lošinj was recognized as health tourism destination 130 years ago.”

The tennis academy itself is situated just a stones throw away from a range of high quality accommodation to suit all budgets thanks to a partnership with Lošinj Hotels & Villas who operate hotels, luxury villas and apartments located at the most attractive locations of the island.

Ljubicic has said of this project, “For me, this is the last piece of puzzle that was missing on my tennis path. I was thinking about this step for some time and when me and my team started talking I soon realized that this place is perfect for what we want to create. With all the experience I have in tennis, I knew the place is going to be as strong as the team is. I wanted to get the best possible people to work in the academy and to share knowledge and experience with players.”

But not all tennis holidaymakers want to be grinding it on the courts for 8 hours a day which is why the Ljubicic experience very clearly states that they can offer plenty for those that want a more relaxed trip and a chance to sample the delights of this island,

“Whether you like to treat yourself with a luxury Spa experience followed by a dinner in a Michelin star restaurant and a good night sleep in a luxury 5 star hotel or you just want to soak the sun in a hidden bay, Lošinj is the place for you. You can spend your nights in a camp or in a super-luxury villa, and everywhere in-between. You can enjoy time in outdoor or indoor pools, workout in a gym with a breathtaking sea view or hike the Osorcica mountain.”

Tennishead is delighted to announce a partnership with the Ljubicic Tennis Academy which means we can offer our readers a 12.5% discount on any package you book. You can view the full range of tennis packages before making your choice then make sure you mention Tennishead when you are booking to secure your discount.

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The post Ljubicic Tennis Academy looking to sprinkle Croatian magic (clay) dust over your tennis holiday appeared first on Tennishead.

Monte Carlo, situated in Monaco, is known for its lavish lifestyle with some of the wealthiest people on the planet residing by the French Riviera. With a population of approximately 3,500 Monte Carlo is world famous for its casinos, cars and hotels.

It is also famous for its tennis tournament which has been dominated by Rafael Nadal who seems to love the area, both on and off the court.

If , like us, this article has made you desperate to visit the tournament then have a chat with our friends at Courtside Hospitality who are the experts in arranging unforgettable Monte Carlo 2023 tennis holidays.

Monte Carlo Masters Debut 

Nadal made his first appearance at the event as a teenager in 2003, when he played Slovak Karol Kucera, at the age of only 16. Kucera was 13 years Nadal’s senior, and certainly no pushover having been as high as no.6 in 1998.

However, on that day it was youth that got the upper hand as Nadal won his tournament debut in crushing fashion, 6-1 6-2.

Nadal made his major breakthrough in the second round when he beat reigning Roland Garros champion Albert Costa, in straight sets. The then teenager succumb to defeat in the following round against eventual runner-up Guillermo Coria, but he was only getting started in Monte Carlo.

Dominance at the event

Since his debut Nadal has taken the event by storm, showing just how much he thrives on the red dirt of the Monte-Carlo Country Club. The Spaniard has gone on to win 11 titles, with a win-loss record of 73-6.

To explain the magnitude of this achievement the Masters 1000 tournament series began in 1990, and only six men have won 11 or more titles all-together, Nadal has won 11 titles in one event.

His first Monte Carlo crown, which was also his first Masters 1000 title, came in 2005 and included coming from a set down against Richard Gasquet in the semi-finals.

The final was very fitting, as he came up against Coria again who was the defending champion. Nadal got the better of him on this occasion winning in four sets, 6-3 6-1 0-6 7-5.

From that point Nadal went on to win the tournament every time between 2005-13, winning 46 matches in a row, which is a record for consecutive wins at a single tournament.

His eleventh and most recent triumph at the Principality came in 2018, when he beat Kei Nishikori in the final, without dropping a set all tournament. The Mallorcan has actually won five of his 11 titles in Monte Carlo without dropping a set.

A lot of players often compare the clay of Monte Carlo and Roland Garros, and Nadal’s record at both events would certainly support that.

Shock defeats

Considering that Nadal has only lost six matches out of 79 any loss is going to be somewhat of a surprise, but some stand out more than others.

In 2014 Nadal lost only his third match in Monte Carlo, when he suffered a quarter-final defeat to fellow Spaniard David Ferrer. It was an uncharacteristic error-strewn performance from Nadal, with Ferrer’s energy causing havoc with his opponents backhand side particularly. Ferrer could not back this win up in the following round as he lost to eventual champion Stan Wawrinka.

Perhaps the biggest shock came in the 2019 semi-final against Fabio Fognini, in a match that Nadal described as ‘one of his worst matches on clay in 14 years.’

Fognini came from 3-1 down in the first set to win 11 of the last 14 games in the match, producing one of the performances of his career. The Italian completed a dream week, beating Dusan Lajovic in a surprise final.

Nadal’s most recent defeat in Monte Carlo came in 2021 against Andrey Rublev. The Russian had lost his first two encounters with Nadal, but he came out firing forcing similar issues for Nadal like Ferrer did back in 2014, with the backhand of Nadal seemingly struggling.

When Nadal forced a deciding set it appeared inevitable what would happen, but Rublev powered his way to the finish line winning the final set, 6-2. Rublev made it to the final, losing to Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Rafael Nadal Suite

The Monte Carlo Bay Hotel is famous for its luxury, fitting in with the rest of Monaco. It also has a touch to the Monte Carlo tennis tournament, with its very own Rafael Nadal Suite.

The suite opened in 2018 to honour the champion of the event, who had won 10 times at this stage. The luxury suite includes memorabilia from Nadal’s career, including a tennis racket, shirt, shoes and photos of his title wins in Monte Carlo.

Customised Yacht

As well as enjoying the environment of the luxurious district, Nadal also likes to travel there in style in his very own customised yacht which is sometimes seen parked in the Monte Carlo Bay.

The yacht was designed by Nadal and his wife Maria, and appears to have everything you could possibly want from a ping-pong table, to a water sports garage which contains Nadal’s ‘water toys’ including a jetski, seabob and jetsurf.

The yacht has four en-suite cabin rooms, with Nadal having his very own VIP cabin that has a balcony which opens up onto the water.

It is clear that Nadal feels at home in the luxurious surroundings of Monaco, and having missed out on the event in 2022 with a stress fracture in his rib he will be expected to make a return in 2023.

To book your dream tennis holiday to watch the 2023 Monte Carlo Masters we can recommend Courtside Hospitality who’ve helped many Tennishead readers to arrange their own tennis tournament holidays and tickets.

Now enjoy Tennishead’s ‘behind the scenes’ fans guide to the Monte Carlos Masters…

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The post Five fascinating facts about Rafael Nadal at the Monte Carlo Masters appeared first on Tennishead.

Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray are all confirmed to feature for Team Europe vs Team World in the most exhilarating tennis weekend all year – The Laver Cup!

This team-based event will take place over three days on September 23-25, at the O2 Arena in London, arguably the world’s best indoor sporting venue. Alternating between Europe and the Rest of the World, the host city changes annually and following the success of Boston in 2021, this year’s edition promises to be one to remember with so many big names set to compete.

“Being in attendance, when Federer and Nadal are coaching one another as teammates, the comradery between the players is something special and truly unique” David Cook, CEO of Courtside Hospitality.

Tickets for this tournament are already very tough to come by, such is the excitement surrounding it.

However, you can experience this wonderful event in style with Courtside Hospitality. Luxury Packages include:

• 4 Nights at Intercontinental O2 Arena (Thursday – Monday)
  King Room with Breakfast
• Private Return Airport/Train Station Transfers To/From Hotel
• Lower Tier Tickets for all 5 Sessions
  – Friday (Day Session)
  – Friday (Evening Session)
  – Saturday (Day Session)
  – Saturday (Evening Session)
  – Sunday (Final Session)

Courtside Hospitality also offer ticket-only options for the Laver Cup 2022 – London: HERE

Courtside Hospitality specialise in luxury bespoke experiences from attending tennis events to travelling on luxury cruises and even combining both to create a truly unique and niche product for the quintessential traveller. Dedicated to ensuring you have the best experience, Courtside Hospitality try to include as many official ATP player hotels within their packages as they can, to give fans the unique opportunities such as eating breakfast next to Rafael Nadal in Monte Carlo.

In September 2023, the Laver Cup moves to beautiful Vancouver, Canada at the Rogers Arena. Luxury Packages are on sale now with Courtside Hospitality.

The Laver Cup at a glance

The Laver Cup has become one of the truly unique and must-see events on the entire ATP calendar. Based on Golf’s Ryder Cup, it turns rivals into team mates as the very best players in the world compete on a unique black court.

Team Europe, captained by Bjorn Borg, take on John McEnroe’s Team World in three days of competition. Each day consists of four matches – three singles and one doubles – with points awarded to the winner.

To ensure a dramatic conclusion, matches won on the final day are worth more points than those earlier in the tournament, so assume nothing going into the final sessions!

• Each match win is worth one point on Friday, two points on Saturday, and three points on Sunday.
• Both singles and doubles are best of three sets with ad scoring. In the event of split sets, the third set is a 10-point match tiebreaker.
• Each player competes in at least one singles match during the first two days.
• No player can play singles more than twice during the three days.
• At least four of the six players must play doubles. No doubles combination is played more than once, unless for the Decider on Day 3, if points are 12:12.
• The winning team must reach 13 points.

To book your luxury Laver Cup package with Courtside Hospitality, click here.

The post Watch the Laver Cup in style, including the return of Roger Federer, with Courtside Hospitality appeared first on Tennishead.

Tennis holidays are back in a big way and Active Away are leading the charge to create unforgettable experiences, just read their reviews if you need any proof!

Tennis holidays have never been more popular than now after a pandemic fuelled surge in the game and a fair amount of latent demand for travel. But finding the best destination, organising your coaching and recruiting playing partners by yourself can be difficult, which is why friend of Tennishead Steve Davies launched Active Away back in 2006.

You’ll probably recognise the name Active Away after tennis holidays were put on the map in a big way thanks to Dragons Den legend Peter Jones agreeing to invest in the business back in 2016. He was sold after a passionate pitch from the Active Away founders. Jones just happens to be a tennis fanatic and has been involved in helping the business deliver on it’s promise ever since.

Tennis holidays need a few key elements to all hit the mark, which is why dedicated tennis travel firms like Active Away exist. They provide the entire package from travel, hotel, coaching and fun plus you know you’ll meet like minded tennis fans on your trip.

Primarily based around adult doubles coaching, Active Away have worked with Louis Cayer MBE (coach of 6 World number one doubles players) to devise the perfect coaching programme. The tennis tuition is designed to turn club level adults into better doubles players in a fun, dynamic and friendly environment.

It’s the satisfied customer reviews that really impressed Tennishead when we researched the experience that Active Away have to offer. They’ve acquired over 700 5* reviews across Google, Facebook & TrustPilot with many like this:

“The tennis coaching on our Active Away holiday in Turkey was outstanding. The doubles coaching format systematically taught us all the skills needed to play better doubles and will be invaluable in club matches”.

Active Away offer trips to a range of stunning destinations from gorgeous resorts on Greek Islands to a hotel with 19 courts featuring a mountain backdrop in Turkey.

So if the idea of a sun soaked tennis holiday in a beautiful hotel surrounded by top quality coaches, joined by like-minded tennis nuts, is your kind of thing then check out all the options at ActiveAway.com or register for their 2023 calendar which will be released soon.

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If owning your own slice of tennis history is appealing then a luxurious house with private indoor tennis court once played on by Novak Djokovic could be right up your street

The property, situated in the affluent suburbs of New Jersey, USA, will be of particular interest to tennis fans thanks to it’s own stunning indoor tennis court that is very much a part of the house.

The wood-panelled, stylish court is joined to the 6,000 square foot, modern property located on Next Day Hill in Englewood.

20 time Grand Slam champion and world number one player Novak Djokovic has played on the court when he was visiting the area and rumour has it the court has also hosted a number of other professional tennis players.

The house, on the market for $3,600,000, is situated in 2.21 acres of mature gardens and features a spa (steam room and sauna), two locker rooms, office, kitchen, sitting area, dining area, laundry room, game area, outside deck and bedroom.

If you are interested in viewing or purchasing this ‘once in a lifetime’ property then please contact:

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The post Unique private tennis court and property with Novak Djokovic links up for sale appeared first on Tennishead.

Patrick Mouratoglou has expanded his tennis coaching services by teaming up with the Costa Navarino holiday destination

The Greek resort in Peloponnese will further develop its sporting facilities with the construction of 12 new tennis courts to welcome the Mouratoglou Tennis Centre and coaches. Overlooking the Ionian Sea, tennis fans and players will be experience the Mouratoglou coaching methodology alongside tailor-made programs from one of the world’s most succesful coaches.

Patrick Mouratoglou has worked with some of the best known stars of professional tennis including Serena Williams and Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Mouratoglou himself has a close affinity with Greece thanks to his Greek father, “I feel a profound sense of patriotism; I am half-French and half-Greek, and during my childhood, I spent several months in Greece every year. I feel very attached to it.”

Costa Navarino is one of the biggest tourism investments in the Mediterranean, consisting of several distinct sites renowned for its sustainable ethos, pristine coastal location, rich history and cultural heritage, unspoiled landscape, luxury hospitality and premium real estate. Stephanos Theodorides, Managing Director of TEMES S.A. commented: “We’re thrilled to expand our sports offering with new facilities and partner with the very best in the world of tennis – bringing a slice of the leading Mouratoglou Academy to Greece.

World No. 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas says: “As a Greek citizen, I was delighted to hear from Patrick about the opening of the center. We both share a deep connection to Greece, and I have no doubt that this new project will be just as much of a success as his academy in France, which I have been a part of since I was 16 years old”

For more information or to book your stay visit https://www.costanavarino.com/mouratoglou-tennis-center/

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The post “I hope it encourages tennis in Greece” Stefanos Tsitsipas backs opening of new Mouratoglou Tennis Centre appeared first on Tennishead.