This article was written by Ella Bradford from Salt Lake City, Utah about her summer tennis travel experience with Atlas Tennis in 2024. Ella’s trip of 10 teenage players from around the US and Canada stopped in Spain, Holland, Switzerland, and France over three weeks in summer 2024. It originally appeared on Parenting Aces, where Ben was a recent guest on the Parenting Aces Podcast.
Atlas Tennis was one of the best experiences I have been able to have over my tennis years so far. I have gone to high school camps, private coaches, group lessons, etc. and none really topped this. It was so cool to be around 9 other kids who all have one thing in common, a big love for tennis.
At JFK in New York before heading to Europe!
I remember the very first day leaving my family to meet the team for this summer tennis travel adventure. I was very nervous to be gone from my family for so long and to be so far away. I didn’t know if I could do it. When I landed in New York to connect with everyone at the airport, I went to meet one of our coaches, Kinzee, and one of the other players, Will. The second I met them I knew everything would be okay from then on. I was able to gel with everyone so quickly and I knew we all would be there for each other. After that, time really flew.
Our first week staying in Blanes, outside of Barcelona, was amazing! There was such a fun dynamic at the tennis club, and the people were all so kind and welcoming. The best part was learning how to play on clay for the first time and getting to swim with all the kids from the club on the last night after the tournament ended! The first week was completely a blur, in the best way possible!
Meeting players from around the US and Europe was one of the best parts of the trip
The second week came and went quickly! Playing at the tournament in Zeist, outside of Amsterdam, was truly so fun! All the practices and the matches—whether it was regular doubles, mixed doubles, or singles—I had the best time. Winning the girls’ doubles tournament with one of my close friends on the team Sophia was definitely my highlight, and by this time I was getting closer with everyone.
Our final week in Switzerland was definitely the hardest but also the most fun! Getting to see all the beautiful mountains and playing with amazing views is something I will never forget! It was also so incredible to get to watch a pro tournament in Gstaad. We got to see Berrettini, Tsitsipas, Wawrinka, and so many others, and we even got to meet Berrettini and talk with him!
On our very last night we had the best dinner with the best people and the best sunset in the beautiful town of Verbier in the Alps. It really closed off the trip well! The sightseeing was so beautiful in each place. From Barcelona to Amsterdam to Switzerland, it really was so crazy to see each place.
Throughout my entire 3 weeks on the trip I also learned so much! Our coaches Kinzee and Ben gave amazing input everyday during practice and after matches. I really felt like my mental and physical game improved a ton. Playing with all different types of players really helped me to learn how to adjust my skills more, especially on red clay.
The connections I made on the trip I will never forget! This trip overall was life changing in all ways and I am so grateful to have been a part of it! I would recommend fully to anyone who is hoping to travel and see new places while also getting to do what you love with kids who are all by your side and coaches who will push you and make you a better person and player!
-Ella Bradford
