Tennis holidays: From Scotland to Sardinia, breaks for adults and families
While the pros battle it out at Wimbledon, Sarah Barrell serves a selection of options for getting out on court on your next escape
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With Wimbledon under way and the LTA currently investing serious money in tennis, it's prime time to break for the baseline. Tennis holidays are now aimed at everyone from children to pros, with new offerings this year including a star-studded tennis camp at La Manga Club, Spain, led by former champions Jo Durie and Alan Jones (tennisholidays.co.uk; from £749pp, 11-18 July); plus a raft of packages catering to the burgeoning number of cardio tennis enthusiasts.
Work up a sweat in Portugal
Former British No 1 female tennis player Annabel Croft runs several tennis academies in resorts around the world. In the Algarve, participants can hone their skills on a five-day tennis holiday at the Annabel Croft Tennis Academy at Pine Cliffs Resort. Take two hours of expert-led group lessons each day, followed by game analysis and goal-setting sessions, plus, if you have the stamina for it, optional sessions of cardio tennis to ensure you're trained and toned to match perfection.
Seven nights start at £885pp B&B, including flights from London, airport transfers and the five-day course, through The Healthy Holiday Company (020 8968 0501; thehealthyholidaycompany.co.uk).
Flash the cash in the Caribbean
Learn from the pros at the Pat Cash Tennis Club at the Buccament Bay Resort in St Vincent and The Grenadines this summer when former British No 1 Chris Wilkinson will be served up as guest tennis coach. He will be coaching guests on the resort's two courts. Seven nights' all-inclusive, for two adults and one child, costs from £4,999.
The price includes group coaching at the tennis academy, flights from London and all transfers, including return flights from the island of Barbados to St Vincent (020 3468 2917; letsgo2.com).
Grand slam, Stateside
Watch Croatian Mario Cilic defend last year's title at the US Open in Queens, New York. Departing 30 August, the Tennis Holidays (01962 713330; tennisholidays.co.uk) trip costs £1,995pp, including tickets for one day and one evening session at the Arthur Ashe stadium (centre court), a three-night stay at Manhattan's Carlyle Hotel, return flights from Heathrow with British Airways and transfers. Tennis Holidays also offers breaks to other grand slam destinations, including Madrid and Florida that come with bolt-on breaks at tennis camps, so you get court time, too.
Tennis for tots
If your little ones don't feel pro enough for Cromlix, Andy Murray's recently revamped hotel in Perthshire (01786 822 125; cromlix.com), then try the new tennis programme at Gleneagles (01764 662231; gleneagles.com).
Until 30 August, family-friendly activities include sports, crafts and games, including tennis lessons in the hotel's spanking new indoor tennis arena, with the Tennis Pro Academy or Tennis Development classes, overseen by LTA coach Adam Brown. A family room costs £405 per night, and tennis lessons start at £65.
Starry Sardinian serve
Joining a roster of pro coaches, Mark Woodforde – Olympic gold medallist, winner of a record-breaking six Wimbledon Doubles championships and 12 Grand Slam titles, one-time world number one in the doubles rankings – will teach at Sardinia's Forte Village Tennis Academy for one week this month, from 13-17 July.
The cost is £2,998pp, staying at Hotel Bouganville in a Superior Bungalow on a half-board basis (excluding drinks), including five days at the Tennis Academy with lessons from Mark Woodforde, and flights from London on 12 July, booked through Sardatur Holidays (020 8940 8399; sardatur-holidays.co.uk).
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