The HDN Academy in Nîmes, southeast France, is a tennis academy that welcomes players of all ages and skill levels. The facilities provide an ideal setting for improving your tennis skills, with a Mediterranean climate and regular tournaments throughout the year (Nîmes Tennis Tour during the school holidays). We offer a supportive, family-friendly atmosphere combined with performance training. At the HDN Academy, our goal is to help you enjoy the game and reach your full potential.
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The HDN Academy is located in the countryside, a twenty-minute drive north west of Nîmes, a city in the Southeast of France (only an hour from the seaside). The academy is surrounded by trees and nature and benefits from the advantages a Mediterranean climate offers tennis players all year round.
The academy was founded in 1974 by George Deniau (former captain of the French Davis Cup team). Players such as Guy Forget (formerly ranked 4th at the ATP, winner of the Davis Cup, former captain of the Davis Cup Team France) and Jacob Hlasek (formerly ranked no. 7 ATP) trained there at points in their career.
Director Cédric Nouvel has been running the tennis and study programs at the HDN academy since 1997. Jonas Mouly, co-director, joined the academy in 2022. The academy also offers students training in horse riding, padel, golf and football.
The HDN Academy is not just a training center and a school, it is also a home away from home with a supportive family atmosphere where numerous former students come back to become coaches for the next generations.
HDN coaching team behind the success of the academy.Source: HDN Academy
Successful players
Some of the academy’s former players can be seen competing on professional tour (ITF Tennis Tour, ATP, WTA, …). One of them is Fabrice Martin, who partnered with Jeremy Chardy to reach the 2019 Roland Garros men’s doubles final and has been ranked 19 in the men's doubles rankings (April 24, 2023). Meanwhile, Virginia Razzano was a well known professional who was ranked 16 on the WTA tour (September 14, 2009), she won 2 WTA and 5 ITF titles) Robin Bertrand, 21 years old, is currently playing the Future and Challenger Tour and is ranked 263 in the world (Jan 3, 2025).
Facilities
The academy has the following facilities:
A fully equipped gym with cardio space and stretching areas
Access to a physiotherapist
A Pro shop with stringers
Housing accommodation (dorm or studios)
Classrooms
A restaurant and a food truck
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.
20+ courts, gym, on-site school and a personal approach of coaches.Source: HDN Academy
HDN is a life project
The main priority of the HDN Academy is to support and help players and their family with their tennis life project. The academy caters all options from going professional on the Tour or leave for the United States to get graduated from a University, become a tennis coach or work in the sport industry. It’s up to the player and the HDN Academy Academy will be there to personalize its support to each player as they work to achieve their goals.
The home of tennis tournaments
The academy hosts many tournaments throughout the year. NTT Cup during each school holiday, UTR tournaments, NTT during the summer break. The format of the tournaments allows the players to play at least 4 matches a week.
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.
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 and Jonas, the co-directors of the HDN Academy Academy, the most important part of a player’s development is this journey.“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 to reach your goals.”
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.”
Practice makes perfect.Source: HDN Academy
Contact
tennis-academies.com
Tell us your story
Every tennis player and every family has different needs for training or accommodation. Tell me your tennis story and I will prepare a tailor-made package for you.
