The tennis blog article below was written by 2024 Atlas Tennis Signature Summer Trip participant William Schmidt, from Buffalo, Minnesota. William traveled with Atlas Tennis to Spain, The Netherlands, Switzerland, and France in June and July 2024, competing in tournaments, training on red clay, and experiencing European culture throughout the trip.
Last spring, as the high school tennis season was in full swing, I found myself intrigued by a comment made by one of my coaches about something called “Atlas Tennis.” I looked into what Atlas was, and found out that it was a program taking teens on tennis trips to Europe. I was instantly enthusiastic about the thought of being a part of a trip like that, and longed to experience not only Europe, but tennis in Europe. After plentiful persuasion of my parents, I finally started on my application and was accepted.
Fast forward to departure day in June. Offering to go through security with me? “I find that excessive,” I told my parents as I said goodbye to them at the airport. I felt a sense of independence as I made my way through TSA, alone for the first time. This wasn’t a “free from my parents,” kind of independence, but a “personal growth” kind of independence. On the way to JFK, I wondered, what’s in store for me? Luckily, some new amazing friends and experiences were just ahead of me.
At JFK in New York, I first met Ella, and I knew right away we were going to get along. I was so glad to have made a friend so early on, and to ease some anxiety that I had accumulated. Next, it was Ava, then Sophia, and we formed what you might call a trio. [editor’s note: note sure how 4 people make a trio? 🤔]
We started on the Catalan Coast of Spain, in a city north of Barcelona called Blanes. Spain has a laid-back energy and relaxed lifestyle that I love. Some of my favorite parts from this leg of this trip include seeing the La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, trying authentic paella, and swimming in the (salty!) Mediterranean. We played tennis at the Blanes Tennis & Pàdel club, where we were able to play with and meet the kids who played there.
Next, we made our way to Holland, in the town of Zeist, east of Utrecht. Something is magical about the rainy, lush landscape and the overall “vibe” of The Netherlands. These things made it my favorite leg of the trip. Some highlights of this leg of the trip include our boat tour of Amsterdam, our freedom to explore and walk around a Dutch town, and watching the European soccer championships with locals. We got to play in the Shot Open, which is a huge tennis tournament that kids and adults come from all over The Netherlands to play in.
Lastly, we made our way to Geneva, where we stayed for the final leg. Geneva is a gorgeous city that is very connected to its lake. The light blue waters of Lake Geneva are clean, surprisingly warm, and perfect for swimming. Some of my favorite parts of Switzerland were, as I said, swimming in Lake Geneva, traveling up into Gstaad to watch an ATP Tournament and meet some pro players, and crossing the French border to spend a day in Chamonix. We played Tennis in Geneva, Chamonix, and even Verbier. The mountain views were absolutely breathtaking and I will never forget them.
When I reflect back on my experience and what I got out of it, I think that the answer is pretty clear. I grew as a tennis player, and as a person. I gained perspective of what the world has to offer. Atlas Tennis changed my life.
-William Schmidt
Want to have your own life-changing experience in Europe like Will? Join us in 2025 on any of our trips to experience the best of European tennis, travel, culture, and new connections. View our 2025 Trips of Learn More now!
