European Summer Tennis: Sunshine & Smiles
June 29 to July 21 (22 Days)
Itinerary:
New York > Blanes, Spain (Barcelona) > Zeist, Netherlands (Amsterdam) > Geneva, Switzerland > New York
Summer tennis in Europe is all about good vibes, and that’s what the Sunshine and Smiles trip will bring. It was designed to give our players a taste of what makes tennis in Europe so special—and different from back home! We start by flying to Barcelona and heading up the coast of Catalunya to a seaside town we’ll call home for the week. Our host, an old friend of Ben’s, is excited to welcome our group for daily practices, a RFET (Spainsh Tennis Federation) tournament, and friendly matches with local players.
His expertise of the local tennis scene allows us to set up plenty of opportunities not just to train, but to play and compete with locals that will be excited to compete with our group as part of their own summer tennis. The official tournament run by the Spanish Tennis Federation will be similar to USTA events in that it will count for World Tennis Number, the new rating system backed by the International Tennis Federation. The club is also across the street from the beach, allowing us plenty of flexibility to spend our days bouncing between the courts, the Mediterranean, and the seaside restaurants serving up Paella, Patatas Bravas, and plenty of other Spanish favorites. Later in the week, our host club will arrange an evening barbeque for us and other players at the tournament, a perfect opportunity for our players to practice their Spanish and get to connect with locals off the court. We’ll cap off the week with a day trip to Barcelona to see the Las Ramblas, Sagrada Familia, La Boqueria, and the unique architecture of the city.
From there, we’ll fly to Amsterdam and then settle in to the idyllic town of Zeist, home of the Zeister Tennis Club “Shot” and the Shot Open, one of the Dutch Tennis Federation’s largest events of the year that has been an annual fixture since 1945. Dutch junior players travel from around the country to participate, with many even camping nearby. The event features plenty of different draws based on level, age, and singles/doubles, meaning our players will be able to play a number of matches throughout the week.
Off the court, the tournament is also known for being one of the friendliest, most welcoming environments, with nightly events like barbecues and karaoke, and with the Dutch often eager to use their English skills, it will be a perfect atmosphere for making new friends. Think of it as a big tournament, but with the vibe of an overnight tennis camp mixed in. Later in the week, we’ll make a day trip to Amsterdam to see some of the city’s most famous landmarks and museums.
For our final week, we are excited to head to Geneva, Switzerland for a tournament organized through the Swiss Tennis Federation and our contact there, who happens to be an old doubles partner of Roger Federer. Geneva is one of the most livable cities in the world, has a comfortable climate, and is located in the foothills of the Alps, only a short drive from some of the most stunning mountainous scenery in the world. This week will also provide our players a great chance to practice their French, as Geneva is predominantly a Francophone city and is located directly on the border with France.
For players looking for an even more immersive experience, there is the possibility of staying with a host family from the tennis club in Amsterdam. For those interested, let Ben know after applying for more information.