Special report by club member Lucy Evans
When my sister, Sally-Ann, asked me a year ago, did I want to go with her and my nephew to Majorca to Rafa Nadal’s tennis academy in Majorca, I jumped at the chance!
My 10-year-old nephew Toby is a county player for North Wales, so he was going to be boarding at the summer camp. Naturally, I envisaged my sister and I sitting by the pool, waving at Toby from the side of the court, glass in hand!
But no, my sister decided to book us on to the Adult Tennis and Fitness week! This meant two hours of tennis coaching in the morning, followed by an hour of circuit training. Then another hour of tennis in the evening if you could walk. And only if the rose wine hadn’t tempted us by then!
It was honestly one of the best weeks ever.
I prepared a little by joining Saxmundham Tennis Club, and had weekly lessons with Matt for a couple of months before I went, just so I wasn’t an absolute beginner. The coaching was just amazing, we were in groups of four, roughly the same standard. Skills and drills were the main focus with lots and lots of repetition.
It hurt a bit (sometimes a lot). It was hot. I cried (out of frustration when I still couldn’t toss the ball straight on day six), and at one point my coach told me my hand was having a ‘heart attack’ as it went into spasm and I couldn’t physically hold my racquet anymore!
"I can honestly say it was one of the best holidays I’ve had,
and I will definitely be trying to go back next year."
But never has a burger and chips for lunch tasted so good. Neither has that glass of rose on the terrace in the evening (overlooking the centre court!).
And yes, we were lucky enough to meet Rafa – what a gentleman!
I can honestly say it was one of the best holidays I’ve had, and I will definitely be trying to go back next year.
And I will be continuing my love of tennis through Sax Tennis Club (once my calf tear has healed!)
Maybe even one day I’ll be able to toss the ball straight up in the air...
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