## History of tennis development in the country
In the 16th century, Belgian aristocracy was crazy about the game of real tennis, much like its French and English counterparts. Some reports claim that Belgium was actually the birthplace of the first tennis courts. A tennis court is even featured in the painting The story of David and Bathsheba by Belgian (Flemish) painter Herri Met de Bles, painted around 1535-40. 

In 1902, the Royal Belgian Tennis Federation was set up. Around the same time, tennis became part of the Royal Leopold Club which one of Belgium’s first tennis greats, Paul de Borman co-founded. 11 other clubs joined the Royal Leopold club and they competed in a league.

Belgium was one of the first countries to compete in the Davis Cup, in 1904, the Belgians were runner up to France in what was known as the International Lawn Tennis Challenge and which was held in London. 

Belgian tennis operated on a club system up until the late 1970s. Until this time, Belgium achieved moderate success in international professional tennis, but the country really became successful when it got a formalised tennis system with both the Flemish and Wallon regions setting up their own tennis systems in 1979.

Once Belgian tennis got organised, players such as Xavier Malisse, Sabine Appelmans and the Rochus brothers competed on the professional tours and gave Belgians successful players to cheer at the big events. 

In the 2000s, Henin and Clijsters meant Belgians had a reason to cheer in plenty of Grand slam finals and those two greats plus Belgian’s participation in two Davis Cup finals in 2015 and 2017 have helped make tennis the third most popular sport in the country and the most watched on TV. 

## Famous players
Tennis in Belgium really hit the international stage with the emergence of Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters. Both women contested the French Open semi-finals as teenagers in 2001 and two years later they competed against one another in the final. They would also go on to play each other in the US Open ‘03 final and the Australian Open ‘04 final. 

Henin would go on to win seven slams and Clijsters four, and both women would spend time at No.1 in the rankings.

> Kim Clisters came back from retirement and from having a baby, a total of three years away from the game, to win the US Open in 2009; it was only her third tournament back!

In the men’s game, David Goffin has kept Belgian tennis in the limelight. Goffin competed in the  ATP 1000 Cincinnati ‘18 final, has played in four ATP 1000 semi finals and three slam quarter-finals. He was also the runner up in the ATP World Tour finals championship match (2017).

**Other players:**
- Jacques Brichant played more Davis Cup ties for Belgium than any other player in the 1940s and 50s.
- Steve Darcis upset Rafa Nadal in the second round of the 2013 Wimbledon championships. Darcis was ranked 135 when he scored the win - his highest ranking was 38 in May 2018.
- Olivier Rochus won the 2004 French Open mens’ doubles title with countryman Xavier Malisse.
- Christophe Rochus made the fourth round of the 2000 Australian Open in his first appearance in the main draw. 
- Xavier Malisse competed in the 2002 Wimbledon semi-finals. He also made the US Open fourth round three times.
- Elise Mertens reached the 2018 Australian Open semi-finals and has contested two US Open quarter-finals. She has also been ranked No.2 in doubles and won the 2019 US Open title with Belorussian Aryna Sabalenka.
- Kirsten Flipkens was a semi-finalist at Wimbledon 2013 losing to eventual champion France’s Marion Bartoli.
- Sabine Appelmans is a former top 20 player who reached the 1997 Australian Open quarter-finals. 
- Dominique Monami reached a career high of No.9 in singles in 1998 and competed in two Australian Open quarter-finals.

## Successes of the national teams 
Belgium reached the Davis Cup 1904, 2015 and 2017 finals.

At the Fed Cup 2001, Belgium were champions. They were also the 2006 runner ups.

Henin won Olympic Gold in Athens 2004. 

## Tournaments in the country
The European Open has been hosted in Antwerp since 2016. It’s an ATP 250 event and is held on indoor hard courts in mid October.

## Training system 
Before 1979, Belgium did not have a centralized system and was mainly played at country clubs. When a system was introduced, Belgium had two tennis centers, one for the Flemish and one for the Walloons which influenced one another. 

Belgium has a preference for indoor tennis facilities due to the often wet weather. 

The most promising club players follow a common path of club to tennis academy to National tennis center and upcoming player Zizou Bergs is a good example of that. 

## Coaches and tennis academies 
Belgian Wim Fissette has coached several WTA former No. 1 players such as Naomi Osaka, Kim Clijsters, Simona Halep, Angelique Kerber, Petra Kvitova and Victoria Azarenka. 

The Kim Clijsters Academy is one of the world’s top training centers. Both the Tennis Europe Junior Tour and the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors Tournament will be held there in 2021. 

Justine Henin also has a tennis academy named Justine Henin Academy. Henin’s former coach Carlos Rodriguez is the academy’s sports director. 2016 Rio Gold Medalist Monica Puig, Elina Svitlona and Daniela Hantuchová are among the top players who have trained there since it opened in 2007. 

**Looking for training in Belgian tennis academies? Don´t hesitate to contact us at [info@tennis-academies.com](mailto:info@tennis-academies.com). We will be happy to help you :-)**

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In the mid 2000s, two of the best female players in the game, Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin were from the same Western European country: Belgium, population 11 million. Belgium proved size was no obstacle when it comes to producing elite tennis players.

Tennis in Belgium

Belgium

Island of Lošinj is a true hidden gem of the Mediterranean. With deep blue sea and more than 260 sunny days per year it is a perfect place for a vision Ljubicic Tennis Academy team has.

```91jx-l-_o2I```

## A new take on the academy
Ivan Ljubicic, a former ATP world No. 3 and coach of Roger Federer for the last 7 years of his career known and respected for strategic approach and mental strength, had a goal to establish a unique place for tennis players looking to step up their game, not only to improve their play style but also their winning mentality. 

For Ivan, the Academy is the last piece of a puzzle on his tennis journey. He gathered a strong team of internationally renowned experts and set a high goal in front of the team: To be the most respected and renowned tennis academy in the world.

![landscape;"For me, this is the last piece of puzzle that was missing on my tennis path.", says Ivan Ljubicic.;Ljubicic Tennis Academy](/uploads/ACA_LTA_Ivan_Ljubicic_68a7413b59.jpg)

## Teamwork
Strong team is what makes or breaks a place like this. Together with Ivan Ljubicic, our team of experts put all of
their knowledge into unique vision of a tennis academy. Ivan Ljubicic made sure not to make any compromises in choosing his tennis family. Today we can proudly say we have a world-class group of tennis professionals at your disposal.

The programs developed for you include everything from technical instructions, match preparation, match strategy and key elements such as footwork, movement and positioning. 

As programs develops it will focus on all areas of the game, and progress from ball drills into point play, so players can incorporate new skills into real tennis match situations. With professional on court and off court analysis, results will be visible across every area of your game.

![landscape;Strong team is what makes or breaks a place like this.;Ljubicic Tennis Academy](/uploads/ACA_LTA_coaches_299f60d927.jpg)

## Tennis is the key
Ivan is not “only” a former world No. 3 or a former coach of one of the greatest players of all times, he is a great thinker, known and respected for his strategic approach and intelligence. He knows what it takes to be better and stronger against all odds and how to outsmart the person across the net. He put all of his knowledge into creating a vision of a tennis academy that will be a perfect place for all tennis players who wants to elevate their game.

## Available programs
From clients who want to add top tennis experience to their vacation getaway to players who want to feel how the professional tennis players achieve their greatness – the Ljubicic Tennis Academy has something for everyone:
- [Competitors Half Day Camp](https://www.tennis-academies.com/programs/95) 
- [Competitors Full Day Camp](https://www.tennis-academies.com/programs/96) 

![landscape;Looking to elevate your game in both technical and mental aspect?;Ljubicic Tennis Academy](/uploads/ACA_LTA_backhend_swing_a804a077e3.jpg)

## Wellbeing & Accommodation
Wellbeing is defined as the place of being comfortable, healthy and happy. We assure you, you will feel it as soon as you step on the island. With more than 130 years of history in health tourism, Lošinj is a true place of body and mind tranquility.

Tennis is our core, but Lošinj has so much more to offer. Whether you want to unwind in a world class SPA or you are a foodie who wants to add a Michelin star restaurant to your list, luxury and service you will get here are second to none.

![landscape;Island of Lošinj, the place where you will feel comfortable, healthy and happy.;Ljubicic Tennis Academy](/uploads/ACA_LTA_aerial_photo_lr_7b948c0e97.jpg)

Proud partners on this project are Lošinj Hotels & Villas which operate hotels, luxury villas, apartments and camp located on the most attractive locations of the island of Lošinj, Croatia.

## The island of Vitality
Lošinj is a true hidden gem of the Mediterranean sea. It is a place with rich and interesting history, fascinating scenery and the turqoise sea. With more than 260 sunny days per year, it is a perfect place 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.

This was not the only big part of the island history, as in 1994, an amateur scuba diver discovered a 2000-year-old, almost perfectly preserved statue of the Greek athlete Apoxyomenos. This exploration enriched Lošinj heritage and showed that top athleticism was appreciated here even 2000 years ago. The island oers you hiking and biking trails, hidden bays ideal for a retreat, many small and charming settlements where you can experience island life as it once was. There are other things too, but we have to leave something for you to
discover.



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Led by the last coach of Roger Federer, the academy is located in Lošinj, a true hidden gem of the Mediterranean.

Ljubicic Tennis Academy - everything that players need to be the best they can be

Ljubicic Tennis Academy

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## History of tennis development in the country
The Croatian Tennis Federation started in 1990. Tennis already had a high profile in the Croatian sporting world. Zeljko Franulovic reached the 1970 French Open final, Niki Pilic reached the 1973 Roland Garros final and their feats put the game in the spotlight when Croatia was part of Yugoslavia. That success on clay was due to clay being the main surface in the country and it continues to be the predominant surface. 

However, it was grass court tennis which inspired young Croats when Goran Ivanisevic contested the 1992 Wimbledon final versus Andre Agassi.

In 1993, Croatia competed for the first time in the Davis Cup. They went on to win the title in 2005 and 2018.

Croatia has regional tennis centers which have grown over the decades as more money has been invested in tennis.

## Famous players
Goran Ivanisevic is the country’s most famous player and is considered a national hero. After finishing runner up at Wimbledon in 1992, 1994 and 1998, Ivansevic finally won the tournament in 2001 in a riveting five set final versus Australia’s Pat Rafter. 

> The 2001 Wimbledon final was played on a Monday, the first time in the tournament’s history. Also, Goran Ivanisevic won the tournament as a wild card! The final, in which the Croat defeated Australia’s Pat Rafter, is considered a classic and ended in thrilling style. Ivanisevic won the final set 9-7 and double faulted on the first two match points. Rafter saved the third match point with a winning lob, but on the fourth match point, Ivanisevic finally won the title with a service winner. If you want to feel goosebumps, the image of Ivanisevic collapsing on the grass after converting his fourth championship point will do it!

Marin Cilic won the US Open in 2014 and reached two other Major finals, losing both to Roger Federer in Federer’s 19th and 20th slam tournament wins. Cilic’s coach was the last Croatian man to win a slam before him- Goran Ivanisevic.  

Iva Majoli upset Martina Hingis in the 1997 Roland Garros womens’ final.

Mirjana Lucic Baroni was a teen phenom who reached the 1999 Wimbledon semi-finals. 

Ivo Karlovic is one of the greatest servers of all time. Here are some of his records:
- Owns ATP Tour record with 13,653 career aces
- Has played 798 tiebreaks (398-400) in 713 matches (370-343). 
- Holds single-match ace records for ATP Tour (45), Australian Open (75), Roland Garros (55), US Open (61) and Davis Cup (career-high 78).

Ivan Ljubicic is a former world No.3. He was the 2010 Indian Wells champion, beating Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick on his way to the title.

Mario Ancic beat Roger in the Wimbledon 2002 first round. Ancic also won the decisive rubber for Croatia in the 2005 Davis Cup final. 

Borna Coric has posted wins over Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray. He even beat Roger Federer on grass in an ATP 500 Halle final, in 2018.

**Other players:**
- Donna Vekic has reached the last sixteen of all the slams and made the 2019 US Open quarter finals.
- Karolina Sprem upset Venus Williams in the second round of Wimbledon 2004. 
- Ivan Dodig was the 2015 French Open mens’ doubles champion with Brazil’s Marcelo Melo and was ranked No.4 in doubles. He has also won the mixed doubles titles at the French Open (twice) and Wimbledon. 
- Mate Pavic has won two mens’ doubles slams and two mixed doubles slam titles. In May 2018, he became the world’s No.1 mens’ doubles player. 
- Nikola Mektic won the doubles title at the 2020 ATP World Tour Finals.

## Successes of the national teams 
Croatia won the Davis Cup in 2005 and 2018.

In the 2002 Fed Cup, Croatia beat the Czech Republic and reached the quarter-finals, losing to Austria. 

At the Olympics, Croatia has won 3 bronze medals. Ivanisevic won 2 of them at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics; Mario Ancic and Ivan Ljubicic won the other, in doubles, at the 2004 Athens Olympics. 

## Tournaments in the country
Umag, one of Croatian tennis’ hubs, hosts a clay tournament in July. Champions have included Thomas Muster, Carlos Moya, Stan Wawrinka and Marin Cilic. 

## Coaches and tennis academies 
Croatia has earned a reputation for producing some of the best tennis coaches in the world. According to tennis coach Nick Horvat, 12 Croatian coaches were working with top 100 players in 2020.

Former ATP player Zelko Krajan coached Russia’s Dinara Safina to 3 slam finals and world No.1 in 2008/09.

Ivan Ljubicic coaches Switzerland’s Roger Federer. The pair partnered up at the beginning of 2016 with Ljubicic replacing tennis legend Stefan Edberg. Ljubicic helped Federer come back from a six month break from the tour to win the Australian Open ‘17 and a further two grand slams as well as reclaim the No.1 ranking at the age of 36, the oldest man to achieve that feat. Ivan Ljubicic now runs his [Ljubicic Tennis Academy](https://www.tennis-academies.com/partners/ljubicic-tennis-academy) in beautiful seaside settings of Mali Lošinj.

> Federer beat his future Croatian coach Ljubicic in the 2006 Miami Open final? 

Split tennis club, Firule is famous for the players that have emerged from it, the most famous one is Goran Ivanisevic. 

**Looking for training in Croatian tennis academies? Don´t hesitate to contact us at [info@tennis-academies.com](mailto:info@tennis-academies.com).**

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Croatia has produced both men and women’s slam champions and two Davis Cup titles. You don’t have to look too hard to understand why- Croatia has a deep love of sport and Croatians have a fiercely competitive spirit.

Tennis in Croatia

Croatia

The academy is located close to the city centre of Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, in an easily accessible location by both private and public transportation.

The Czech Republic offers convenient access to other European countries for tournament play. There are also many tournaments hosted in the country itself. 

As well as this convenience, players who train in the Czech Republic can benefit from the country’s well developed tennis infrastructure. The Czech Republic has an illustrious tennis history and is one of the world’s most successful tennis countries - just between 2011 and 2018, they won Davis Cup two times and Fed Cup unbelievable six times. Consequently, with so many role models such as Pliskova herself, tennis is a very popular sport with a world class infrastructure which offers players great tennis facilities and great coaches.

## History of the academy
Karolina Pliskova, her twin sister Kristyna, and their team had the idea to start an academy which would serve many purposes. This academy would both be a center for player development and a place Karolina could use as a base where she could train with fellow professionals. 

The team already knew of a club in the perfect location and, in July 2020, the academy was set up. 

![landscape;The team behind Pliskova Tennis Academy with its young tennis players.;Pliskova Tennis Academy](/uploads/ACA_PTA_team_7ea07af1ca.jpg)

Ondrej Dohnal, a member of Karolina Pliskova’s coaching team, was appointed the Head Coach at the academy. Dohnal also helped guide Katerina Siniakova to become an accomplished player, reaching the No.1 doubles ranking. In addition, Dohnal has experience with high achieving ATP and junior players during his thirty plus years working as a Head Coach.

## Facilities
The academy has 5 clay courts, 2 indoor courts, and a mini court. There are also gym facilities, a restaurant and a football field, which can be used for other sports. In 2022, the academy will be expanded by another 8 indoor courts. 15 outdoor court and accommodation in a new complex.

## Players motivation 
The club has a great reputation for its juniors, who are some of the best in the region. 

Juniors at the academy are, according to Dohnal, mainly motivated by the presence of Pliskova and by being so close to her. *“They look up to her,”* says Dohnal, *“and for many of them, she is their idol”*.

![landscape;Karolina Pliskova inspiring the new generation of players.;Pliskova Tennis Academy](/uploads/ACA_PTA_Pliskova_with_kids_151ad3d507.jpg)

Pliskova is very involved with the academy and plays there every time she is back from tournaments . Once a year, the academy organizes for players to have *“A day with Pliskova”*. On this day, they can observe her practice, learn about her nutrition and hit with her tennis coach.

## Junior development and programs
The Pliskova Tennis Academy aims to develop its players through one of its key values - communication. Juniors are taught to communicate with their coaches to develop a close relationship between both sides which is crucial for the next development of the player. Coaches and players spend a lot of time together at the academy. Dohnal believes that coaching and player development is *“a process that goes beyond the lesson times”*. Coaches travel with their players, practice with them and observe them in match play. 

Another area of development the academy caters for is the mental game. The academy aims to offer its players high level mentality coaching and to run these sessions at Summer camps. 

![landscape;The most respected Czech mental coach Marian Jelínek, who works not only with tennis players, but also athletes from other sports such as ice hockey player and NHL legend Jaromír Jágr.;Pliskova Tennis Academy](/uploads/ACA_PTA_mental_coach_9b9b32cebf.jpg)

## Programs for players 
Besides junior players pursuing professional careers, the academy also trains adult and junior recreational players and  ATP and WTA professionals. 

Therefore every level of play and age group is represented at the academy and many of its players are the best in the region. This means there is always a suitable sparring partner for every player and coaches can call someone to be at the club in less than an hour. 

The strength of the academy is evident in team tennis where their players of all ages compete in the top-flight  leagues in the Czech Republic.

**Short-term tennis programs**
- [Weekly Program (no accommodation)](https://www.tennis-academies.com/programs/66) - from the age of 7 to 20 years

## Family atmosphere
The academy frequently brings its players together to enjoy the club’s family atmosphere. For example, at Christmas they all get together in the club and exchange presents. Also, twice a year, they host a tennis camp abroad in Marbella in Spain which players and their parents attend. These trips have been very popular and more will be hosted in future.

Head Coach Ondrej Dohnal believes that players, their parents and their coaches work together to achieve success, and the academy’s family atmosphere facilitates their will to progress as a team.

This camaraderie is what drives Dohnal to *“cooperate with the team and come up with better and better ways to improve the players and the academy.”*

![landscape;Friendship between the players and the coaching team is an essential part of the academy's approach.;Pliskova Tennis Academy](/uploads/ACA_PTA_stretching_4470437d89.jpg)

## Contact
If you have any questions regarding tennis programs in Pliskova Tennis Academy, **please don't hesitate to contact us at [info@tennis-academies.com](mailto:info@tennis-academies.com)**. We will be happy to help you :-)


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Pliskova Tennis Academy works at the highest level and at the same time in a family environment and a friendly atmosphere.

Pliskova Tennis Academy - train with the best in Prague

Pliskova Tennis Academy

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## History of tennis development in the country
Czechoslovakia considered tennis trophies as symbols of their success on the world stage. Tennis was a mainly western sport with the USA, UK, France and Australia leading the way until Czechoslovakia broke up that dominance when Martina Navrátilová and Ivan Lendl reached the top. 

Both Navrátilová and Lendl defected from the communist regime and became US citizens. Navrátilová defected in 1975 while she was competing in the US Open. Ivan Lendl defected, with Navrátilová’s help in the early 1980s. Lendl has said that he and Navrátilová would not have achieved their great success unless they had defected.

Since the fall of the Berlin Wall and the formation of the Czech Republic and the growth of the economy, tennis infrastructure has improved with more covered courts available so players can train and practice all year round. The game has become so popular since the success of the Davis Cup and Fed Cup teams that even with the increased facilities, players have to book a court far in advance.

## Famous players
Martina Navrátilová is an all time great in the women’s game. She won 18 slams and was No.1. She won Wimbledon a record 9 times, her first title in 1978 and her last in 1990.

Navrátilová had issues with her weight early in her career and then went on a strict fitness regime which influenced how fitness was seen in the tennis world.  

Ivan Lendl -  after finishing runner up in his first four slam finals, Lendl went on to win 8 slams, 5 Masters Grand Prix titles and become No.1, a position he held for 270 weeks.

Ivan Lendl redefined men’s tennis with his aggressive baseline game. He was one of the first players to hit the ball hard on every stroke from the baseline on both clay and hard courts and his influence was seen in the games of Courier and Agassi in the early to mid 90s.

> When Lend’s opponent was at the net, he would sometimes hit the ball as fast as possible right into his body to discourage him from going there again or at least to give it a second thought. And he wasn't afraid to use this tactic even against his biggest rivals in front of hostile crowds - just ask [John McEnroe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xAPwx3z950).

Hana Mandlíková won 4 slam titles. On the way to the 1985 US Open title, she beat Martina Navrátilová and Chris Evert back to back, which no one had done at a slam since Tracy Austin at the US Open 1979.

Jan Kodeš won three grand slams in the early 1970s - twice French Open and a Wimbledon crown. 

Jana Novotná won the 1998 Wimbledon title, beating Nathalie Tauziat in the final. In 1993, when she was runner up to Steffi Graf and dropped a 4-1 third set lead, Novotná earned the love of the Wimbledon crowd and the tennis world when she sobbed on the shoulders of the Duchess of Kent during the trophy presentation ceremony. 

- Petr Korda beat Marcelo Rios for the 1998 Australian Open mens’ title. 
- Tomáš Berdych beat Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic on his way to the Wimbledon 2010 final.
- Petra Kvitová has won two Wimbledon titles and been a runner up at the Australian Open.
- Lucie Šafářová was a runner up at the 2015 French Open.
- Helena Suková was a three time slam finalist.
- Karolína Plíšková is a former world No.1 and a US Open finalist. 

## Successes of the national teams 
Davis Cup -  The Czech republic has won the Davis Cup twice, in 2012 and 2013

Fed Cup - The country has won the Fed Cup six times (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018)

At the Olympics, Jana Novotna won three medals- two silvers (doubles in Seoul and Atlanta) and one bronze (singles in Atlanta)

## Tournaments in the country
Since 2015, the WTA Prague Open has been an international tournament. Three Czech players have lifted the trophy - Karolina Pliskova, Lucie Safarova and Petra Kvitova. 

## Training system 
The Czech republic has a regional club system where coaches take care of the juniors and the most talented juniors are sent to regional clubs. The very best clubs and some of the players who came through their system are listed below:

- TK Agrofert Prostějov (Petra Kvitová, Tomáš Berdych, Lucie Šafářová)
- TK Sparta Praha (Karolina Plíšková , Barbora Strýcová , in the past Martina Navrátilová)
- I. ČLTK Praha (Markéta Vondroušová, Lucie Hradecká, in the past Jan Kodeš)
- TK PRECHEZA Přerov (Barbora Krejčíková, Karolína Muchová, in the past Jana Novotná)
- LTC Pardubice - this club is known for hosting a Czech junior championship every year called "Pardubická juniorka" where lot of successful player boosted the start of their careers, including Ivan Lendl, Petr Korda, Martina Navrátilová and Petra Kvitová.

Almost every small city has its own club with teams playing regional team competition during the springtime. 

The summer season is full of tournaments where players compete as individuals. Clubs organize these tournaments and the higher the level of the tournament, the higher the ranking the players needs to compete. There are the following categories:

- “Mini" category (until 10 years of age),
-  "Young players" category (10 - 12 years), 
- "Older players" (12 - 14) 
- "Juniors" (14 - 18). 

Players are allowed to play higher category tournaments - usually in their last year of the younger category. This means they can gain some points for their first year in the next one and do not have to start from zero points.

## Coaches and tennis academies
Jiří Vaněk, a former ATP player who was ranked 74 in 2000, is the coach of Petra Kvitová and he also used to work with Karolína Plíšková.

Ivan Lendl, born in former Czechoslovakia, has coached Andy Murray and helped the Scot finally achieve his potential to win Grand Slam titles. Just like Lendl, Murray lost his first four slam finals, but after the two got together, Murray won the US Open title in 2012 and then followed that win up with the Wimbledon 2013 title. Lendl and Murray split in Spring 2014. When they reunited in Summer 2016, Lendl once again helped Murray return to Grand Slam winning ways as Murray won his second Wimbledon title. Lendl also coached Murray to the No.1 ranking in 2016 as well as the World Tour Finals championship in London where Murray defeated Djokovic in the final and sealed the year-end No.1 ranking. Lendl has also worked with Sascha Zverev. 

**Looking for training in Czech tennis academies? Don´t hesitate to contact us at [info@tennis-academies.com](mailto:info@tennis-academies.com).**

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The Czech republic has produced a real variety of tennis players - baseliners, serve and volleyers, and all courters who have left their mark on the sport. 

Tennis in the Czech Republic

Czech Republic


The HDN academy is located in the countryside, a twenty-minute drive north west of Nîmes, a city in the south east of France which is just an hour’s drive from the sea. The academy is surrounded by trees and nature and benefits from the advantages a Mediterranean climate offers tennis players. 

```5L_Q9Gs-JYU```

The academy was founded in 1974 by George Deniau who would also captain the French Davis Cup team. Players such as Guy Forget and Jacob Hlasek trained there, the two professionals ranked four and five on the ATP tour respectively at points in their career. 

Directors Cédric Nouvel and Pascal Courtois have been running their tennis and study programs at the HDN academy since 1997. The academy also offers students training in horse riding, dance, padel, golf and football. 

HDN academy is not just a training center and school, it is also a home with a supportive family atmosphere where former students come back to help coach current ones.

![landscape;HDN coaching team behind the success of the academy.;HDN Academy](/uploads/ACA_HDN_team_c3c810619e.jpg)

## Successful players
Some of the academy’s former players can be seen competing on the men and women’s professional tour. One of them is Fabrice Martin, who partnered Jeremy Chardy to the 2019 Roland Garros men’s doubles final and has been ranked 22 in the men's doubles rankings. Meanwhile, Virginia Razzano was a well known and accomplished tour professional who was ranked 16 on the WTA tour. 

## Facilities
The academy has the following facilities:
- A fully equipped gym with cardio space and stretching areas. 
- Accommodation
- Classrooms
- A restaurant
- A center court with tiered seating
- 21 outside courts. 
- 4 indoor courts.
The courts are mainly hard except for 1 synthetic grass, 1 artificial clay and 2 natural clay.

![landscape;20+ courts, gym, on-site school and a personal approach of coaches.;HDN Academy](/uploads/ACA_HDN_facilities_collage2_c37e253ac3.png)

## HDN is a life project
One of HDN’s priorities is to help players with their tennis life project. That project could be to play at a high level or even professionally, go to university or work for a sports company. It all depends on the player and HDN gives personalized support to all players as they work to achieve their goals.

## Available programs
Practice makes perfect! Whatever project HDN and its players decide on, it is going to take a lot of practice to make it a success. HDN’s well developed, established tournament structure means players can get valuable on-court play and match practice at once. 

The academy hosts 30 tournaments a year, which is one of the academy’s biggest prides. At HDN, the directors have set up a tournament circuit which maximises match play and for example in July, there is a tournament every three days and 150 matches can be played a day. Every time a player registers they are guaranteed to play at least four matches as in the 32 player draws, win or lose, the player goes on to compete in another match.

![landscape;Go, go, go!;HDN Academy](/uploads/ACA_HDN_coach2_878f07bad3.jpg)

**Short-term tennis programs**
- [Performance Pole Course (with accommodation & full-board)](https://www.tennis-academies.com/programs/34) - from the age of 8 years
- [Elite Pole Course (with accommodation & full-board)](https://www.tennis-academies.com/programs/85) - from the age of 11 years
- [Tennis + Tournament Course (with accommodation & full-board)](https://www.tennis-academies.com/programs/36) - from the age of 11 years

**Long-term tennis programs**
- [Tennis Studies - Full Time Competition (8 months with accommodation, full-board & school)](https://www.tennis-academies.com/programs/47) - from the age of 10 to 18 years

## The player journey
The opportunity to play so many tournaments also gives coaches a chance to assess players’ development, so win or lose, players can work on their game and progress. According to Cédric, one of the academy directors, the most important part of a player’s development is this journey and not whether or not they have many wins besides their name.

“Players who like the process do the best,” says Cédric. “Players should not be interested in quick results,” Cédric adds. “If you like the process of practice, you will do whatever it takes for your development.”

## Player motivation
Results still have some importance and a place in a player’s journey. Cédric explains that players “have to make objectives and results are a big part of their motivation. It’s about finding that synergy between the process and goals. For players who are not winning, it is  best to take them back to the process and see how they improve.”

For the coaches in this French tennis academy, watching these kinds of players improve is one of the greatest parts of life at HDN.  

![landscape;Practice makes perfect.;HDN Academy](/uploads/PRG_HDN_juniors_inquiry_b7a8e7e83a.jpg)

## Contact
If you have any questions regarding the programs in HDN Academy, **please don't hesitate to contact us at [info@tennis-academies.com](mailto:info@tennis-academies.com)**. We will be happy to help you :-)



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The HDN Tennis Academy in south east France offers players great facilities, training excellence but also a family atmosphere. These elements help players fully enjoy the process of finding their feet in the world of tennis.

HDN Academy - tennis academy in France

HDN Academy

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The HDN Tennis Academy in south east France offers players great facilities, a Mediterranean climate, plentiful tournament play and a winning combination of family atmosphere and training excellence. These elements come together to help players fully enjoy the process of finding their feet in the world of tennis.

> The word tennis itself comes from the French word *tenez*, the term love comes from *Oeuf* which is French for egg, and deuce derives from *a deux*, meaning equal. 

## History of tennis development in the country
The original game of tennis came from a 13th century game played in French monasteries. This game was later adopted as the royal court game jeu de paume (game of the palm) which was the origin of Real tennis which became a hugely popular game among French aristocracy.

At one stage, tennis became so addictive in France, it was banned as monks and soldiers neglected their duties in favor of playing it. It was also outlawed after the French Revolution due to its royal connections.

However, tennis survived the bans and the Revolution and became popular again when Napoleon III opened courts at Versailles in 1861.

Less than a decade later, lawn tennis was born. 

In 1891, the French Open was held for the very first time and France’s stamp on international tennis was sealed.

## Famous players
In the mid 1920s, Suzanne Lenglen was one of tennis’ first icons, an enigmatic champion who was famous not only for her game, but for her style, too. 

Lenglen, known as “Our Suzanne,” won two French Opens and six Wimbledons. 

In the late 20s, four men rose to the top of the sport- Henri Cochet, Jean Borotra, René Lacoste and Jacques Brugnon. These four would come to be known as The Four Musketeers. 

After the second world war and as tennis entered the open era, the rest of the world started catching up with France and French players were no longer at the top of the international game. 

However, the country has still produced some top flight champions over the last few decades as well as some renowned top 100 and 50 players who have contributed to French tennis’ reputation as strong, creative and enigmatic.

**Slam champions**
- Yannick Noah delighted the crowd when he and his net game won Roland Garros in 1983 
- Mary Pierce won the title in 2000 beating Seles and Hingis on the way. She also won the Australian Open ‘95.
- Amelie Mauresmo won two slams (Australian Open ‘06, Wimbledon ‘06) and reached No.1 in the world.
- Marion Bartoli won Wimbledon 2013

**Slam Runner ups**
- Natalie Tauziat, Henri Leconte, Arnaud Clement

The country has also produced some of the players with the most flair in recent times, such as Fabrice Santoro, Gael Monfils, Richard Gasquet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who reached the 2008 Australian Open final.

> France’s Fabrice Santoro, (Career high 17), led Russia’s former world No.1 Marat Safin 7-2 in their career head, the Frenchman’s flair and touch getting the better of the powerful, slam winning Russian.

On the women’s side Tatiana Golovin and Caroline Garcia have also earned praise for their all court games and entertaining styles. 

French tennis has also earned itself a leading name in doubles. 

Pierre Hughes Herbet and Nicholas Mahut have proven to be two of the best doubles players in the world. (Number of titles?). 

Fun fact- Mahut also created history in his Wimbledon match versus John Isner, the longest match of all time- Mahut won in 11 hours and 05 minutes. 

In the women’s game, Kristina Mladenovic is a former Doubles No.1 and has won five Major titles, including three French Opens in womens’ doubles. 

## Successes of the national teams 
The Four Musketeers. won the Davis Cup from 1927 to 1932 and ended the US domination of the competition.

France also won the Davis Cup in 1991, 1996, 2001 and 2017.

The 1991 final win was a surprise one, the French coming up against a US team led by Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. Guy Forget beat Pete Sampras in four sets in the fourth tie to give the French a 3-1 before a home crowd in Lyon.

The French have won the Fed Cup three times, in 1997, 2003 and 2019.

In the Olympics, France has won 19 medals in total- 5 Gold, 6 Silver and 8 Bronze and is third in the tennis medal table behind the UK and the USA.

## Tournaments in the country
The French Open started in 1891 and went international in 1925. It is one of the four Majors, more commonly known as slams, and is played on Clay. 

The event is also known as Roland Garros, named after a fighter pilot who fought in World War I.

The main court is named after Philippe Chatrier, a former player and president of the French Tennis Federation. The second show court is named after none other than Suzanne Lenglen.

The French Open has one of the most famous crowds in tennis. They are known for being very knowledgeable about the sport and very generous to players who play, and behave, well. They will also let players know if they have stepped out of line, as they did when Martina Hingis crossed the net to circle a mark on the court in the Roland Garros ‘99 final versus Steffi Graf. 

Paris-Bercy is an indoors Masters (ATP 1000) tournament held at the end of the year.

A WTA tournament was held in Paris, the Paris GDF, from 1993 to 2014. 

The country also holds ATP 250 events in Montpellier, Nice and Lyon.

## Training system 
French tennis training is known for its focus on the techniques of the game. Players have to master techniques across the entire spectrum of the game rather than just focusing on one area. Once the player has mastered the technique of one shot, they can move on to another. 

French players play a lot of doubles to help them master net play and the focus is on developing an all court game which could be played on all surfaces.

The French Training system has earned a reputation for being well-structured and effectively helping students progress from one level to the next. 

## Coaches and tennis academies 
Patrick Mouratoglou is a well known coach, working with Serena Williams and Stefanos Tsitsipas. He’s also worked with Grigor Dimitrov. Patrick runs the famous Mouratoglou Tennis Academy, which is just outside Antibes in the South of France. Mouratoglou recently helped coach Stefanos Tsitsipas reach the Roland Garros ‘21 final. 

Mouratoglou, whose nickname is the Coach, believes that it is not important whether you win or lose, but it is all about what you learn and how you grow. His ability to communicate such philosophies has helped make him one of the most influential coaches in international tennis. 

Other French tennis academies include:

[HDN Academy](https://tennis-academies.com/partners/hdn-academy), which is located in Nimes in the South of France. This academy helped Virginie Razzano reach the top 20 and offers extensive match practice to players during the Summer months. 

All In Academy Côte d´Azur, which is run by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the 2008 Australian Open finalist, and Thierry Ascione who was ranked 81 on the ATP tour and coached Richard Gasquet. 

**Looking for training in French tennis academies? Don´t hesitate to contact us at [info@tennis-academies.com](mailto:info@tennis-academies.com).**

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Few countries have a history with so much flavor and depth- France has produced not only the sport itself but also some of its most talented players and, of course, one of its premier tennis tournaments, the French Open, also known as Roland Garros. 

Tennis in France

France

## History of tennis development in the country
The German tennis federation is one of the world’s oldest sporting organisations, starting up in 1902. It is also Germany’s third largest sporting organisation after swimming and gymnastics.

Before lawn tennis, real tennis had a big following among the Germanic monarchy and aristocrats. 

> The first non USA, UK, French or Australian player to win a Grand slam was a German, Gottfried Van Cramm, who won the French Open in 1934. 

Like other developed, relatively wealthy Western European countries, Germany may not have had the weather for outdoor tennis, but it had the infrastructure for all year round training and could afford to invest in promising players.

Few were more promising than teen sensations Becker and Graf. In the 1980s, Becker and Graf made the game hugely popular and helped the sport grow- Germany hosted numerous professional tournaments which were televised; there was a boom in the number of recreational players and Boris and Steffi were often in the media spotlight. 

After Graf and Becker’s retirement, the game is still a popular sport with players such as Angelique Kerber and Sascha Zverev attracting players to the game.

## Famous players
In 1985, Boris ‘Boom Boom’ Becker won Wimbledon at 17. Becker was like a rock star in Germany and is still a well known figure in tennis circles having coached Novak Djokovic and commentating for major TV channels. 

At the same time as Boris, Steffi Graf came to prominence and made tennis history when she won the Calendar year Grand Slam in 1988, also known as the Golden Slam because Graf won the Olympic Gold in Seoul that same season. 

Graf won 21 Slams from 1987 to 1999 and was No.1 for a record 377 weeks. 

In 1991, Michael Stich won Wimbledon and reached No.2 in the world. He also made the French Open and US Open finals and provided stern competition for Pete Sampras. 

Following in Becker, Stich and Graf’s footsteps has been a tough challenge. Angelique Kerber has done a good job of it, reaching No.1 and winning three slams.

**Other German players of note are:**
- Sacha Zverev is a top five player and 2018 ATP Finals champion. He has also won three ATP 1000 titles and reached the US Open 2020 final, losing to Austria’s Dominic Thiem.
- Tommy Haas reached world No.2 in May 2002 and has also been to the quarter-finals of all the slams and reached two slam semi-finals.
- Rainer Schuttler was Australian Open 2003 runner up. 
- Nicolas Kiefer reached a career high ranking of No.4 in 2000 and contested the Australian Open 2006 semi-final which he lost to Roger Federer in four sets.
- Dustin Brown defeated Rafa Nadal in the Wimbledon 2015 second round. The German shotmaker also beat Nadal at Halle, 2014. 
- Sabine Lisicki contested the Wimbledon 2013 final.
- Anke Huber made the Australian Open 1996 final where she played against Monica Seles.

## Successes of the national teams 
Germany won the Davis Cup in 1988, 1989 and 1992. The country also won the Fed Cup in 1993 and 1995.

In the Olympics, Steffi Graf won Gold (Seoul, ‘88) and Silver (Barcelona ‘92)  medals in singles. Kerber won silver (Rio ‘16) and Tommy Haas also won Silver (Sydney ‘00).

## Tournaments in the country
In Germany’s heyday, the country held two WTA clay tournaments leading up to the French Open, Hamburg and Berlin. Now the country holds one Premier clay court event for women, the indoors Stuttgart Open held in Spring. 

The men also have two Wimbledon warm up events played on Grass- the ATP 250 Stuttgart Open and the ATP 500 Halle Open. 

> Roger Federer has won ten Halle titles. Along with Rafa Nadal, he is the only male player to have won ten singles’ trophies at one tournament. 

Munich currently holds an ATP event on Clay played in Spring. Hamburg also hosts an ATP 500 Clay event in late July. This tournament used to be held in the weeks leading into the French Open and was one of the most important clay court events.

In 2001, the WTA championships were held in Munich. Serena Williams won the title. 

When tennis had a more established indoor season, Germany was the place to be, holding some of the world’s biggest men’s indoor events such as Stuttgart and Essen. The men’s final at Stuttgart ‘96 between Boris Becker and Pete Sampras is considered to be one of the greatest indoor matches of all time. 

Frankfurt held the ATP finals from 1990-1995. From 1996-1999, the tournament was held in Hannover. Both events were played indoors on carpet, except in 1997 when the surface was changed to hard courts. 

The Grand Slam Cup, played from 1990-1999, was held at the Olympiahalle, Munich. This men’s tournament featured the 16 best players at the slams competing for the game’s then largest prize money pay out of $ 2 million. In 1998 and 1999, women were also invited to play their own event.

## Training system 
Like many Western and Northern European countries, Germany’s tennis training system is built around clubs rather than academies.

At clubs, promising juniors can receive coaching subsidised by the German Tennis Federation. If a club player has potential, they will go to one of the German Tennis Federations’s tennis centers. The Club play culture gives players a lot of match play through interleague matches, a real sense of belonging to a team and a lot of local support. 

The interleague matches, which pay prize money, allow players from other countries to join a team as players from neighboring countries like Poland or the Czech Republic frequently compete. The interleague has a reputation for being very competitive and ATP players such as Dustin Brown can be seen competing in ties.

## Coaches and tennis academies
Boris Becker is not just one of Germany’s most famous players; he is also one of their most well known coaches. In 2014, Becker joined the Novak Djokovic team and helped Novak to get back the No.1 ranking from Rafa Nadal. 

One of Germany’s best tennis academies is the Schüttler Waske Tennis-University, located a short drive south West of Frankfurt. The academy was founded by Rainer Schüttler, the 2003 Australian Open runner up and Alexander Waske, a former German Davis Cup player. The academy has indoor rebound ace courts, the same surface which Schüttler reached his slam final on. 

**Looking for training in German tennis academies? Don´t hesitate to contact us at [info@tennis-academies.com](mailto:info@tennis-academies.com).**

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Tennis in German

Germany

In his young coaching career, Diego has coached more than 100 young players. Most of them reached their best ranking with him. Since 2014, Diego has won more than 30 tournaments with his players and
brought home thousands of ATP and WTA points at the start of their careers. In 2020 he decided to launch a new concept Nargiso Tennis Academy built on the foundations of a team environment.

![landscape; Another two trophies to the collection of Diego Nargiso and his team.;Nargiso Tennis Academy](/uploads/ACA_DNA_two_trophies_053c8e7a09.jpg)

## Learning and teaching by playing
The goals of the Nargiso Tennis Academy for the tennis school segment reflect the philosophy of learning and
teaching by playing. Within the lessons, moments of great attention to the specific teaching of tennis strokes or movements are combined with the game and the complicity between students and teachers. "*This combination ensures that the environment is always serene and jovial*", believes Diego.

![landscape; Serene and jovial atmosphere helps players to enjoy the process of training.;Nargiso Tennis Academy](/uploads/ACA_DNA_team_6800f37c83.jpeg)

## The coaching team
The team consists of experienced staff of specialists in their own fields:
- Diego Nargiso - International Coach, Ex ATP Player
- Jacopo Lenzi - Tennis Instructor
- Francesca Serevini - Tennis Instructor
- Alessandra Ripamonti - Tennis Instructor
- Christian Zuccato - Physical Trainer
- Antonio Del Tufo - Physical Trainer
- Alfio Caronti - Neuromuscular Optimizer
- Mariela Contreras - Nutritionist

```wWjaZKIiUME```

## Transferring values learned 
At the Nargiso Academy, the focus is on being able to transfer those values the coaching team has learned by practicing the sport to all the students. "*The values the players learn will allow them to be ready to face life with more self esteem and awareness. Being able to overcome difficulties with one's own means in a social context without barriers, allows the students to grow with the awareness of being able to face problems and know how to solve them.*", says Diego Nargiso.

![portrait; *"More self esteem and awareness is a key to overcome problems."*, says Diego Nargiso.;Nargiso Tennis Academy](/uploads/ACA_DNA_girl_player_9c5d62ae51.jpeg)

## Contact
If you have any questions regarding the programs in Nargiso Tennis Academy, **please don't hesitate to contact us at [info@tennis-academies.com](mailto:info@tennis-academies.com)**. We will be happy to help you :-)






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Nargiso Tennis Academy is a smaller tennis academy on the north of Italy close to the beautiful Como lake. Trainings are led by Diego Nargiso, former ATP Pro and member of Italian Davis Cup team.

Nargiso Tennis Academy - learning and teaching by playing

Nargiso Tennis Academy

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## History of tennis development in the country
It says a lot about Italy’s love of sport that Italian tennis, with its own TV station, history of slam champions and hosting the prestigious Italian Open, is only the sixth most popular sport in Italy. 

Italy is home to the first tennis club outside of the British territory, the Bordighera tennis club established in 1878. 

The Italian Open began in the 1930s and was designed to impress. The tournament is celebrated for its setting and ambience and its red courts and classical statues are one of tennis’ most iconic images.

While tennis was first played on Clay in Italy,  like most countries in the last couple of decades, hard courts have risen in popularity and this is reflected in Italian players’ success on the surface with two women reaching the US Open final in 2015, Flavia Pennetta and Roberta Vinci. 

> Matteo Berrettini is a great example of Italian players’ diversity across all playing surfaces. In 2019, he won tournaments on hard, grass and clay courts. 

The country is also a hotspot for tennis academies providing the multi surface facilities modern tennis academies are famous for. 

Tennis also has its own free to air TV channel, Super Tennis, which is a feature tennis fans around the world would no doubt love to have and which keeps the game in the public eye and helps make the sport accessible. 

## Famous players
Italy has had some slam champions and it has consistently featured players at the top end of the game. 

Nicola Pietrangeli was the first Italian player to win Grand slams, winning the French Open in 1959 and 1960.

Fabio Fognini has been a regular in the top 20 of the sport for more than a decade now. Fognini is one of just a handful of men who have managed to beat Rafa Nadal three times or more on red Clay. Fognini also came down from two sets to love down to defeat Nadal in the US Open third round in 2015. It was the first time in Nadal’s career he had been beaten after leading two sets to love and ended his impressive 151-0 record. 

**Italy has a particularly good record in womens’ tennis:**
- Francesca Schiavone won the French Open 2011.
- Flavia Pennetta won the US Open 2015.
- Sara Errani was a Roland Garros 2012 finalist.
- Roberta Vinci was a US Open 2015 finalist. One her run to the final, Vinic ended Serena Williams’ quest to win the Calendar year Grand Slam.
- Sylvia Farina Elia made the last sixteen at all the slams and reached the 2003 Wimbledon quarter-finals. 

In doubles, Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci have won five slam doubles titles. 

**Other players of note:**
Adriano Panatta won the French Open in 1976. Panatta managed to defeat Bjorn Borg twice at Roland Garros (1973 and 1976), the only player to ever defeat the Swede in Paris. 

Andrea Gaudenzi was a top twenty player in the mid 1990s and in 2020 became the chairman of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). 

Renzo Furlan reached a career high ranking of No.19 in April 1996 and made the Roland Garros quarter-finals in 1996. 

Andreas Seppi has been a top twenty player. He beat Roger Federer in the third round of the 2015 Australian Open, his first victory over the Swiss after ten defeats. It was also Federer’s first exit before the Australian Open quarter-finals since he lost in 2003 fourth round.

Marco Cecchinato defeated Novak Djokovic in the Roland Garros 2018 quarter-finals 

> Cecchinato’s run to the 2018 Roland Garros semi finals is the only year he has ever won a match at that tournament?

Jannik Sinner, Matteo Berrettini and Lorenzo Musetti are all considered upcoming #NextGen players. Sinner won the 2019 Next Gen Finals Trophy in Milan.

## Successes of the national teams 
Italy has won the Davis Cup once, in 1976. 

Nicola Pietrangeli holds the record for most all-time Davis Cup wins in singles with a 78-32 win/loss record. He also holds an all-time record in doubles. With his doubles partner Orlando Sirola, he has the most Davis Cup doubles wins with a win-loss record of 34-8 

The country has won the Fed Cup four times- 2006,’09, ’10, and ‘13. When Italy won the title back to back in 2009 and 2010, it continued a recent Fed Cup tradition of countries defending their trophy-  Italy became the fifth country to successfully retain the title since 1990. 

## Tournaments in the country
Rome hosts the  joint ATP/WTA event in May. This event is one of the biggest on both tours. The tournament has similar conditions to the French Open and is considered a reliable indicator of French Open potential champions.

Turin began hosting the ATP World Tour Finals in 2021.

The Next Gen tournament is held in Milan in the week before the ATP Tour finals.

## Training system 
Clay is the preferred surface in Italy but the Italian Tennis federation has built more hard court surfaces in recent times and this has resulted in success across all surfaces. 

Italy has a solid tennis infrastructure across the entire spectrum of tennis development from amateur, junior to professional tennis. 

The Italian system is decentralised instead of having a national center where all the best players train. This means talented, promising juniors can stay close to home and enjoy the advantages of close contact with family and friends.

When players graduate from juniors, they have the benefit of living in the country with the second highest number of lower tier tournaments after the USA. In the New York Times, Berrettini stated this accessibility for Italian players saved both money and time. 

## Coaches and tennis academies
Ricardo Piatti is one of the country’s top coaches and coaches Italian hope Jannik Sinner. Piatti is on record in The New York Times as saying the best way for young players to develop is to go straight to the ITF and challenger circuits and play with the best players, which is what Sinner did. Sinner has reached back to back French Open fourth rounds as a teenager. 

Piatti runs his own tennis academy named the Piatti Tennis Center. There are also other up-and-coming top quality tennis academies like the [Nargiso Tennis Academy](https://www.tennis-academies.com/partners/nargiso-tennis-academy) near the world famous Lake Como. 

**Looking for training in Italian tennis academies? Don´t hesitate to contact us at [info@tennis-academies.com](mailto:info@tennis-academies.com).**


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Italy has a diverse and deep tennis culture with both men and women making their marks on their tours. The country also hosts one of the oldest and most charming red clay tournaments.

Tennis in Italy

Italy

## History of the sport
Like many European countries, Norwegians began playing tennis among the aristocracy. This trend gradually led to more and more people taking up the sport and then the development of Norway’s club system. 

The Oslo Tennis Club, one of the very first tennis clubs in the country, was established in 1900. The King of Norway himself played there and so have most of the country’s best players, including Ruud’s father, Christian Ruud who reached No. 39 in the world in 1995 and twice made the US Open fourth round. 

## Notable players.
The Ruud family are a rare one in tennis - a father and son both making it to the top level of the sport. This seems to be becoming a trend, too, with Petr Korda’s son Sebastian breaking into the top 40 and Bjorn Borg’s son Leo playing on the junior tour and reaching No. 12 in the rankings.  

## Tournaments
In 1974, the ATP held an event in Oslo, which was won by the USA's Jeff Borowiak. 

The Oslo Open, a WTA event, was held in 1991. Catarina Lindqvist, a Swede, won the event. 

## Team competitions
Norway has competed in the Davis Cup since 1928. In 1995, led by Christian Ruud, they made an appearance in the World group play off. 

Norway have competed in the Federation Cup since 1963 and have made the second round of the World group four times, in 1964, 1967, 1972 and 1974.

## Club system
While many countries have both academies and clubs which work side by side in developing players, Norway is a typical example of a club system. 

In the Norwegian club system, players need a membership to play, which is common in Norway where membership is generally needed for sports participation. But once players have that membership, then the sport is very accessible. This is key to the growth of the sport. The country aims to attract as many people to tennis as possible, and to encourage tennis for life. 

This inclusivity of the club system in Norway means that tennis is not focused on producing future young champions, but is instead aiming to bring as many people to the sport as possible. Tennis is still very much an adult sport in Norway with many new players taking up the sport at 40 or 50. 

## Tennis development strategies 
One way the country is trying to develop tennis is to make the sport fun. The Norwegian tennis federation focuses on youngsters enjoying the sport. One way of doing this is by prohibiting competition before players are 12 years old, a strategy to prevent early drop off. 

Another strategy to keep players in the game is to have kids engaged in multiple sports disciplines with not much competition pressure and let them choose the preferred sport later.  

## International tennis culture
The Norwegian tennis culture is an international one, which provides its players with some advantages. Players experience many different languages from their coaches, who are from all over the world. This means players coming to train in Norway can often get training in their native language. The best example is the [Oslo TennisKlubb](https://www.tennis-academies.com/partners/oslo-tennis-academy), where it is possible to communicate with coaches in up to 10 languages!

**Looking for training in Norwegian tennis academies? Don´t hesitate to contact us at [info@tennis-academies.com](mailto:info@tennis-academies.com).**

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Success is happening in Norwegian tennis with Ruud, who, in 2021, won 5 ATP titles and finished the season ranked no. 8.

Tennis in Norway

Norway

## Location
The academy is 20 minutes drive from Lisbon airport and five minutes from the sea. You can walk from the academy to the ocean in just 20 minutes. It’s also very close to Cascais, a relaxed coastal resort, where professional tennis tournaments are held. The climate here is tennis-friendly with year-round temperatures ranging from 12-26 degrees Celsius.

![landscape; Beaches are just a couple of minutes away from the courts. Perfect location for year-round training.;Cunha e Silva Tennis Academy](/uploads/ACA_JCS_seaside_a29ed19ca0.jpg)

## A passion for tennis
What makes tennis academies stand out is the **team behind them and their passion for the game, and Cunha e Silva’s devotion and excitement for the sport is catching.**

The academy director, former player Joao Cunha e Silva, is one of Portugal’s most experienced and dedicated players. Some of his accomplishments include:
- In 1985, he was the world’s No.1 junior.
- In the men’s game, he reached rankings of 108 in singles and 72 in doubles.
- He holds various Portuguese Davis Cup records including most singles wins, most total wins and most years played.

Cunha e Silva continues to love the sport and his students feel this when training with him. According to the director, “the passion is [still] big and I think everybody feels [this] once they are over here.”

Cunha e Silva’s love for tennis is also shared by his team which includes 11 coaches. Many of them are his former students and all of them are ex-players. It is, says Cunha e Silva, “a young, ambitious and devoted team.” And knowledgeable. Each team member has experienced the demands of the tennis circuit, is able to empathize with one another, and believes in the academy’s methodology, which enables the smooth running of the academy and its players’ success. 

## Facilities
The residential tennis club has 11 courts. Academy students have exclusive access to seven of them. One feature that makes the Academy stand out is that the academy is the only one in Portugal to have all 3 surfaces. The academy features::
- 3 grass (synthetic) courts.
- 2 GreenSet
- 6 Clay

![landscape; One of the nicest centre courts you can play in Portugal.;Cunha e Silva Tennis Academy](/uploads/ACA_JCS_centre_court_51d8319fb2.jpg)

Courts have floodlights and are set in a green and tranquil environment. There is also a fully equipped gym.

The academy offers private practice, lessons, social tournaments and also mini-tennis. 

## Training schedule
The academy offers its students a structured but flexible approach to their training.

Players staying at Cunha e Silva Tennis Academy typically practice from 9-11am, and this can be extended if players wish.

In the afternoons, students do fitness training from 3-5pm.

Players can also take part in sessions from 5-7pm and 7-9pm in the evenings.

## Academy aims
The academy aims to develop its players' physical and psychological skills in a sporting and social environment. They focus on four main areas: Physical training, nutrition, physiotherapy and mental training. 

Cunha e Silva Tennis Academy sets out to help players develop good values for life and to create good competitors. It’s moto is:
*“Believe in luck - the more you work, the more luck you have!”*

## Players
Cunha e Silva Tennis Academy students have opportunities to train with an international, experienced and diverse pool of players. Its students range from beginner to advanced levels. 

Players travel to the academy from all over the world from countries such as Japan, England and Switzerland among others.

![landscape; International players are working their way to the professional tour.;Cunha e Silva Tennis Academy](/uploads/ACA_JCS_doubles_players_9fbc2b93f4.jpg)

Age groups vary, too. There are juniors, some of them Portuguese nationals, and adults training alongside professional players.

Many of the academy’s players have been coming back since its inception. Lengths of stay vary depending on players’ needs, ranging from a week to all year round.


Cunha e Silva Tennis Academy is by your side from the first time you set foot on a court until your first competition.

Cunha e Silva Tennis Academy - the more you work, the more luck you have

Cunha e Silva Tennis Academy

## History of tennis development in the country
Portugal’s close relationship with Britain meant that tennis was warmly welcomed as a British sporting export not long after Britain had established the modern game.

The Cascais sporting club, home of the Estoril Open, had its first Clay tennis courts in 1882. In 1902, the club held its first international tournament. 

Portugal’s tennis federation has been around since 1924 and was set up so the country could participate in the Davis Cup. 

More and more investment has gone into tennis in Portugal since the late 1980s when it became a member of the EU and this has resulted in more tennis clubs and academies, greater opportunities to train and an increase in professional players competing on the tours. 

Portugal has a range of futures events which means it’s a great destination for upcoming players looking to get their foot on the rankings ladder. 

## Famous players
Guilherme Pinto de Basto is one of Portugal’s most influential players and helped develop and grow the sport as both a player and president of the Portuguese tennis federation in the early to mid 20th century.

Joao Sousa is the country’s most accomplished player. He has won three ATP titles and has been ranked as high as 28 (May 2016).

Michelle Larcher de Brito came to the tennis world’s attention when as a qualifier she defeated Maria Sharapova in the Wimbledon 2013 second round. 

## Tournaments in the country
Estoril is one of the lead in ATP clay tournaments to the French Open. It was set up in 2015. Before that, it was the Portugal Open, which held both WTA and ATP tournaments. 

In 2000, the ATP Finals were held in Lisbon. The tournament was won by Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten who beat Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras on his way to the title. 

## Training system 
Like many countries, tennis training in Portugal seems to be personalised for the player. All aspects of tennis from fitness to technique and nutrition are part of training. 

Tennis is linked closely to other sports with soccer clubs like Benfica, Porto and Sporting Lisbon all having tennis academies. 

There is a preference for clay courts, however clubs and academies have multi surface facilities. 

## Coaches and tennis academies 
Tennis academies are popular in Portugal with its ideal weather conditions, beautiful, inspiring scenery and its proximity to the beach. 

One advantage Portugal has over its neighbor Spain is that it offers more affordable tennis coaching options. 

Former player Joao Cunha Silva has a tennis academy near Lisbon, the [Cunha e Silva Tennis Academy](https://www.tennis-academies.com/partners/cunha-e-silva-tennis-academy). 

**Looking for training in Portuguese tennis academies? Don´t hesitate to contact us at [info@tennis-academies.com](mailto:info@tennis-academies.com).**


Portugal has a popular tennis culture thanks to its great weather and the country’s general love of sport. That climate and love of tennis combined with Portugal’s more affordable training and lower tier tournaments has made the country a tennis hub. 

Tennis in Portugal

Portugal

Tennis countries in Europe