Introduction

For junior tennis players looking to improve their game, each summer is a pivotal time to keep developing. There are many options for tennis camps and tennis academies, all offering unique pathways to helping players have the best experience.

Some tennis camps focus on providing players with the chance to hit as many balls as possible and drive improvement through repetition, while other academies promote proven track records of developing successful professional players. 

Atlas Tennis combines daily training, tournament competition, and expert coaching to help players maximize their potential. In addition, Atlas Tennis creates experiences where players grow through cultural exploration, new friendships, and lifelong memories forged through both tennis and travel. 

What makes a great tennis camp

I have been around tennis my entire life, and grew up attending many of the biggest and best tennis academies on this. I have also worked as a coach at tennis camps of different sizes, and I have seen the pros and cons of the different options. 

There is not one answer to “where should I send my teen to play tennis this summer.” The answer will be different for everyone, but this list shares some of the best options.

IMG Academy

IMG Academy is well known for being one of the largest sports academies in the world. It began many years ago as the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida and has expanded massively, now offering year round training for athletes in many sports.

For tennis players, IMG Academy offers a huge complex with many courts, coaches, and players. IMG Academy has helped develop many professional players, and is still a great option for players looking to train in an enthusiastic sporting environment. 

Because IMG Academy is so massive, it is a good option for players looking to be in an environment with lots of courts and players. However, some players may not enjoy the huge scale of the operation, as it can be more difficult to have a unique, personal experience. That said, IMG Academy has become one of the most famous options for summer tennis for teens for good reason.

Rafael Nadal Academy

The Nadal Academy is a newer option for the best summer tennis camp for teens, but it has very quickly become a popular choice thanks to its name. Rafael Nadal has helped to create this academy in his home of Mallorca, Spain and it attracts players from around the world to come train.

Rafa himself sometimes makes appearances at the academy, since he lives nearby, and visitors have raved about the museum in his honor that is on the ground of the academy.

The Nadal Academy offers players the chance to experience Spanish training methods, although the academy has a very international feel as opposed to one that is specifically Spanish. 

For players looking to run into pros, and maybe even Rafa, the Nadal Academy is a good choice, as some current pros are often training there. In fact, Iga Swiatek was videoed this week at the Academy, with Rafa watching and providing tips. 

The location of the Nadal Academy is appealing for some players looking for a summer tennis camp, but for others it can be a negative. The island of Mallorca is undeniably beautiful, but can be difficult to get to from North America.

Atlas Tennis

Atlas Tennis is an ideal option for many teenage tennis players looking for a summer tennis camp. Atlas Tennis creates trips that travel to different countries and locations while players train with top coaches every day, compete in tournaments that can help raise their Universal Tennis Rating (UTR), and learn how to compete and gain match experience against new players.

Atlas Tennis offers summer tennis camps in Europe with trips that travel to the UK, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, France, and more destinations are always being added.

Former Atlas Tennis players often see a big improvement in their game after returning home. Many former players have said that having the chance to play tournaments in new countries was a highlight of the experience, and that the competition helped them develop their games and prepare for their high school and college tennis matches.

All of the teenagers that participate in Atlas Tennis receive personalized coaching from the Atlas team of coaches, which includes NCAA champion coaches at the D1 and D3 levels, as well as former college players and top juniors. All players also receive match feedback from the coaches and have the opportunity to learn how to play on red clay, a new surface for many North American teens that is critical for player development.

One of the biggest reasons why Atlas Tennis is one of the best summer tennis camps is because players improve their tennis while also having unforgettable life experiences across Europe while making new, lasting friendships. Many former Atlas players and coaches continue to stay in touch for years after the trips, and the life experiences the teens have while still in high school prepares them for college. 

Mouratoglou Tennis Academy

The Mouratoglou Tennis Academy is a popular option thanks to its iconic location in the South of France, as well as for some of the players that have been coached by the academy founder and namesake, Patrick Mouratoglou.

The most famous player that Mouratoglou has coached is, without question, Serena Williams (will we be seeing her make a comeback later this year!?). In addition, Stefanos Tsitsipas has also been a long-time player who has trained at the academy. 

From a more personal standpoint, one of our cofounders of Atlas Tennis, Eric Butorac, trained at the academy when he was beginning his pro tennis career in France in the early 2000s, before it was known as the Mouratoglou Academy. 

The Mouratoglou Academy is perhaps slightly more unknown to North Americans compared to some other options, and despite the journey to the South of France that is required, it is a great summer tennis camp option for players looking to experience a famous academy further away from home. 

Local Tennis Camps

Wherever you live, there are almost certainly different local options for summer tennis camps for teens, and they can also be an excellent choice. Some of the well known options in many areas of the US are Nike Tennis Camps, Wilson Tennis Camps, and different camps on college campuses organized by local coaches. For an experience where teens will play a lot of tennis and receive coaching but not have to travel as far, these local options can be great. 

For players who aren’t interested in travel, and just want to be on a tennis court no matter what, local tennis summer camps are a very appealing option.

Key Considerations when choosing the right summer tennis camp for your teen

Coaching expertise, court availability, number of hours of tennis offered, off-court experiences, and style of coaching are all key considerations to take into account when selecting the best tennis academy. 

It is also important to think about what type of tennis camp or tennis academy feels like it will provide an experience that fits with your preferences. If you are looking to work on technique and fundamentals, the best option might be different than if you want to focus on match play and competition. 

Another nice fact to consider is that you can try multiple options to see what you like best. Many players will have experiences at IMG Academy, a local tennis camp, and Atlas Tennis, for example. Having all of these different tennis camp experiences helps players to grow and develop, and is also very informative when determining what program is right for them.

Final Conclusions

There is not just one answer to what is the best tennis academy or camp for junior players. What matters most is that the player finds a program that they feel excited about and encourages them to work hard, have fun, and get the most out of the experience. 

While I have experienced many of these options myself, we of course recommend Atlas Tennis to most players. Even though I think it is an amazing program, we always tell players and their families that it is not right for every player. There is no “one size fits all” summer tennis camp or tennis academy, so this guide is intended to help make the best choice for YOU. 

If you’re interested in learning more about Atlas Tennis and why it is one of the best summer tennis camps, please contact me, Ben Shapiro, at ben@atlas.tennis with any questions or anything I can help with. Even a question about another one of these summer tennis camps 🙂