As Wimbledon fever seizes the capital, watching the goings-on in SW19 may have inspired you to pick up a racket and put on some tennis whites. Perhaps you’ve even decided to go the full hog and hit a ball on an actual tennis court. If so, this is the perfect opportunity to combine the sport with a holiday to a far-flung sunny spot where you can turbocharge your game in an exotic destination with superb coaching close at hand and top class facilities. Read on for our choice of the ace resorts.
Bickleigh Castle, Devon
USP: Tennis in the grounds of an eleventh century castle
Fancy combining tennis with a country house weekend? Look no further than Bickleigh Castle for a getaway full of historic charm. You will be greeted with a champagne and Pimms reception in the grounds on arrival. You’ll play on a picturesque court surrounded by manicured gardens and under the tutelage of former Wimbledon player Rohun Beven who will tailor lessons specifically to suit your experience level and technique. Then there’s an evening game of croquet on offer and a tour of the castle itself before tucking in for the night in a sweet private cottage. With the castle just a 2 hour 15-minute and 20-minute taxi from Paddington station, this is one of the most accessible spots on the list.
From £450pp for a group of four on a two-day tennis break, bickleighcastle.com
Casa de Campo Resort, Dominican Republic
USP: The Wimbledon of the Caribbean
This is the holiday to book if you want to combine world class tennis facilities with a paradise trip to the Caribbean. The 7,000-acre resort offers the largest and most comprehensive tennis centre in the Caribbean with 13 immaculate courts, 10 of which are lit for night play. With 25 pros and junior professionals on staff, no matter what your level of play you’ll be able to brush up on that forehand with private and group lessons. After a long day of serving up backhands and rallies, you can relax with dinner in one of the eight restaurants on site or feel the white sand between your toes on one of the three private beaches.
From £2,479pp for a seven-night all-inclusive stay including return flights with BA Holidays, britishairways.com
Pine Cliffs, Portugal
USP: Tennis for the whole family
Here’s the opportunity to learn the game from former British No1 player Annabel Croft. Her academy, at an all-inclusive resort on the exquisite Algarve coastline of Southern Portugal, offers tennis camps over five days for guests of all ages. The 10 hours of coaching over the week focusses on different skills each day. Facilities include five floodlit courts - two clay, three hard, and a padel court, which can be booked by the hour or as a block for the week. Named the best family resort in Europe, Pine Cliffs has plenty of activities for the whole family such as exploring life-size pirate ships and enrolling in cooking school MIMO Algarve.
From £314pp for an adult tennis holiday with rooms from £248 a night, pinecliffs.com
Cromlix, Perthshire
USP: Owned by Andy Murray
Where better to hone your forehand and perfect your serve than in the baronial pile owned by two-time Wimbledon champ Andy Murray? The luxury Victorian mansion has a state-of-the-art, all-weather court decked out in the same purple and green as SW19’s most famous court. Expect pretty country house-themed bedrooms and a loch as well as a group of professional players on hand to scrutinise your strokes. You could even club together for a 90-minute session with Andy’s mother Judy which costs £1,000 and includes an indulgent champagne tea. After a long day of tennis, there’s plenty of delicious Scottish produce to enjoy with Perthshire venison and smoked North Sea haddock particular standouts on the menu.
From £250pp for B&B, cromlix.com
Saddlebrook, Florida
USP: Perfect for tennis fanatics
Not for the faint of heart, this vast resort which consists of 43 courts is known to some simply as The Tennis Resort. All time greats who have trained at Saddlebrook include Pete Sampras, Martina Hingis and Andy Roddick so you’ll be in good company as you swing forehands from the baseline in the Florida sunshine. You could end up on the court next to some active pros. Saddlebrook offers a demanding five-hour a-day programme that is guaranteed to see your performance significantly improve after a stay. If that doesn’t sound like your idea of a holiday, private lessons and a few quick sets of competitive tennis are also on offer at the 480-acre resort.
From £112 a night, saddlebrook.com
Sani Resort, Greece
USP: Rafa Nadal’s stamp of approval
Perhaps the ultimate tennis holiday, the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre at the luxe Sani Resort is headed up by Toni Nadal, the man who coached his nephew to the first 16 of his 22 Grand Slam titles. Nestled on the beautiful Halkidiki peninsula and offering mesmerising views over the Aegean Sea, the resort gives motivated players the chance to learn and seriously improve. But it also accommodates beginners with sessions open to those who can hardly hit a ball but are keen to practise under the Hellenic sun.The top class facilities have secured Nadal’s approval. He visited earlier this year and said: ‘The quality of the whole facility is spectacular and I think it’s an incredible place to play tennis and enjoy a great holiday.’
From £891 for a double room with private tennis lessons starting at £478 per person, sani-resort.com
Stanglwirt, Austria
USP: Tennis in the Alps
If the idea of playing tennis with a backdrop of the Austrian Alps appeals then this is the holiday for you. The courts offer a breathtaking view of the majestic Wilder Kaiser mountain. Peter Burwash International has been running tennis camps here for more than 40 years and, with six indoor courts as well as eight outside, whatever the weather you can get a game in. The coaches take their work very seriously with video analysis, racket demonstrations and singles and doubles tournaments ensuring that guests achieve their personal goals. But it’s not all just tennis. When you hang up your racket for the day, you can hike up a mountain, swim in a lake, fish in a mountain stream and even ride a white Lipizzaner horse - the hotel has a private riding school.
From £322 a night, stanglwirt.com
Curtain Bluff, Antigua
USP: Toes-in-the-sand island luxury
This small, unique resort comes with bundles of island charm. Tucked away on a rocky promontory and flanked on both sides by the Caribbean sea, Curtain Bluff promises a tranquil paradise away from the hustle and bustle. With four championship hard courts and world class coaches on hand, you can play tennis to your heart’s delight. The clientele love the resort so much that some of them, including Fred Stolle, winner of the US and French Open, have been going back every year for decades. There’s also a sun drenched yoga deck overlooking the water and a jacuzzi among the rocks of the Caribbean sea. If you’re feeling weary, the 5,000 sqft spa is on hand for some rest and relaxation.
From £580 a night, curtainbluff.com
Villa La Massa, Italy
USP: A Medici palazzo with tennis on the doorstep
This is the holiday for those who want some old world European luxury with a side of tennis. Villa La Massa is set amidst the fragrant lemon trees, olive groves and Cypress trees of the gorgeous Tuscan countryside. Just a short walk away is the Match Ball Firenze Country Club with 16 clay tennis courts which can be used by hotel guests free of charge. If your muscles ache after a particularly vigorous game, the spa is on hand with a traditional Turkish bath, hydro-massage pool and sports massages. Make use of the stylish pool, linger over lunch at the shaded terrace of the L’Oliveto restaurant and take at least one day trip into Florence to marvel at its Renaissance masterpieces before getting back to work on your serve.
From £473 a night, villalamassa.com
Forte Village, Sardinia
USP: Tennis on a mediterranean island
Think luxury plus tennis on the sunny south coast of Sardinia. Forte Village boasts an impressive tennis complex with 13 courts and three padel courts hidden among 50 hectares of gardens and lush pine forest. Tuition is provided by former grand slam champions who arrive at Forte Village every summer to teach guests and lead training camps. If all that running back and forth thumping balls over a net has you exhausted, the on site spa offers thalassotherapy. Involving the therapeutic use of saltwater, this method for detoxing, rejuvenating and improving the body will leave you relaxed and ready to head back to the court the next day.
