Most tennis lovers are familiar with world-renowned tennis academies like IMG in Florida or Sanchez-Cazal in Spain, but few know of the hidden paradises where you can combine a stunning holiday with premium facilities and world-class coaching.
Word Tennis Travel shares the Top 10 Tennis Holiday Resorts, highlighting the locations where tennis and travel feed magically into each other. Here they are in no particular order.
The Thai Jewel - Thanyapura, Phuket
Go here for: Performance training, great value, inspiration, a healthy holiday.
Need to know: Five day tennis training holiday packages, including accommodation and coaching programs, start from AUD $1245 per person.
Led by four-time Ironman Champion and Chairman Chris McCorman, Thanyapura is a 23-hectare sport oasis hidden amongst Phuket's tropical rainforest and a true heaven for sport, fitness and health fanatics. Thanyapura is arguably the best sport resort in South-East Asia, with world-class training facilities only 15 minutes from Phuket Airport.
Thanyapura offers mind training sessions, fitness classes, premium accommodation, an award-winning restaurant as well as top-notch coaching programs and tennis clinics delivered by coaches from Peter Burwash International. Thanyapura is regularly the Asian training venue of choice for world-class athletes such as Maria Sharapova and offers great value for money.
An Exotic Getaway - Paradis Beachcomber, Mauritius
Go here for: Experience exotic Mauritius, luxury vacations, beach and water sports, plus daily tennis classes.
Need to know: Six night luxury accommodation from $2400 per person. Clinics and private lessons can be organised on site.
Consider one of most beautiful islands in the world, then choose one of the finest resorts on the island and you will find Le Paradis in Mauritius - an exotic piece of paradise sitting in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
Translating from French to "Paradise", Paradis Beachcomber lives up to its name by offering a truly idyllic holiday destination. Paradis Beachcomber Hotel and Golf Club will provide you with luxury accommodation, world-class golf courses, three kilometres of beautiful sandy beaches and most importantly one of the most scenic locations for a hit of tennis. Six floodlit courts are awaiting you, nestled between "Le Morne Mountain" and stunning beaches with turquoise water.
Elevate your game in the Swiss Alps - Gstaad Palace, Switzerland
Go here for: Tennis in the Swiss Alps, Roy Emerson Tennis Weeks, summer mountain sport.
Need to know: Luxury accommodation $548 per night in summer.
In winter the Gstaad Palace is regarded as one of the top five star ski resorts in Switzerland; in summer, The Palace takes its white coat off, open its outdoor clay-court and magically transforms into a stunning tennis resort in the heart of the Swiss Alps. Each summer, the Palace hosts the ATP Allianz Swiss Tennis Open and champions such as Marc Rosset and Roy Emerson join the summer tennis party by offering their own summer camps.
The Gstaad Palace Hotel, which recently turned 100 years old, has developed a reputation as one of the top luxury hotels in Switzerland. While enjoying breathtaking views of the Swiss Alps you can also enjoy the three indoor courts that are also available nearby the hotel.
An Andalusian Flavour - Hotel Puento Romano, Andalucia
Go here for: World-class coaching programs, an amazing hotel and to experience the Costa del Sol.
Need to know: Tennis Escape Package, including three-night luxury accommodation, tennis coaching, match-play and video analysis from $599 per person.
Would you like to experience a world-class training camp in Spain while enjoying a sophisticated and comfortable vacation on the Costa del Sol? Hotel Puente Romano resembles a gorgeous private country club but is a luxury hotel in Andalucía that's open to everyone.
Located in Marbella in the heart of the Costa Del Sol, the beach hotel has been designed to re-create the character and charm of an Andalusin beachfront village. The hotel is surrounded by a unique and fabulous sub-tropical garden in which there are over 400 botanical species. The resort features 10 tennis courts and an academy that’s open to hotel guests.
The Mediterranean Seduction - Elba Island, Tuscany, Italy
Go here for: Mediterranean holiday experience, outdoor sports, romantic dinners on the beach.
Need to know: Super Camps with Riccardo Piatti start from $1,910 per person.
Elba is the largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago located 20kms offshore from the west coast of Tuscany. This magical island set up is the ideal environment for an unforgettable summer vacation in Italy with beautiful coves nestled in the cliffs, gorgeous villages and romantic beaches.
It's also a stunning spot for tennis in locations such as the Tenuta Delle Ripalte Sea, Country and Wine resort that displays clay courts overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The island hosts a number of summer tennis camps, including the GoTennis camp run by Ricardo Piatti, former coach of Ivan Ljubicic and Richard Gasquet.
Asia's Largest Tennis Resort - Mission Hills, Shenzen, China
Go here for: Tennis, golf, and a large resort with access to a wide range of services.
Need to know: Accommodation starting from $173 per night; private and group lessons starting from $49 per hour.
This amazing and over-sized resort breaks all records for sport facilities: the world's largest golf venue has 12 golf courses and with an incredible 51 courts, the largest tennis facilities in all of Asia. Mission Hill Shenzhen is the official training headquarters of National Tennis and Golf Association in China. Its academy is one of the most prestigious in the nation, contributing to the breakthrough of elite Chinese players like Li Ting and Sun Tian Tian, women's doubles gold medallist at the 2004 Olympics.
Tennis clinics and lessons led by a team of highly experienced Chinese coaches are available for all ages and levels daily, and can be delivered in English. Resembling a mini city, Mission Hill is nestled in rolling hills just 30 minutes from Shenzhen and has pretty much everything to offer in terms of leisure facilities and luxury accommodation.
Spain's Finest - La Manga Club, Murcia
Go here for: Great family destination, sports heaven, high performance camps for advanced players.
Need to know: Adult weekend warriors tennis packages include 10 hours on court from $370; junior camp from $210 for five days (accommodation not included).
Premium but less "boutique" than Hotel Puente Romano, La Manga club is one the largest and finest tennis resorts in Europe. The multi-award winning resort features 28 courts and is the official overseas training base of the English Lawn Tennis Association (LTA). La Manga club is a fantastic active holiday destination for all types of travellers including singles, couples and families.
Daily tennis clinics are available for junior and adult players and a high performance camp is on offer for advanced junior players under 19. Weekly Tennis Packages including accommodation and daily training are perfect for players looking for rapid improvement.
Tennis Paradise - Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Kohala Coast, Hawaii
Go here for: Relaxing, Tennis and Beach Experience, it's Hawaii!
Need to know: Luxury accommodation is available from $450 per night. Kids and adults daily clinics start at $30 per session.
Never travel to Hawaii without your tennis gear - you'll be missing the opportunity to hit in Tennis Paradise! Hawaii is the home of several world- class tennis resorts, such as Mauna Kea Beach Hotel's Seaside Tennis Club, which has been ranked among the Top Tennis Resorts in the US.
The clubs features 11 courts overlooking the ocean and offers daily tennis clinics. This is a tennis and beach holiday at its best and the ideal location for an exotic and relaxing getaway.
Tennis, Texas and Aussie Spirit - John Newcombe Tennis Ranch, Texas
Go here for: A unique tennis experience, elite tennis training or an adult tennis camp.
Need to know: Weekly tennis camp including meals and accommodation available from $1043 for adults and $895 for juniors.
Nestled in the rolling hills of Texas, the John Newcombe Tennis Ranch offers a fun and unique blend of Texan experience, tennis vacations and Aussie flavour. The ranch was first established by Aussie legend John Newcombe in 1968 and its reputation has grown to become one of the most respected tennis resorts and academies in the US.
The academy is the regular training home of young elite players from all around the world, with many earning a placement into US tennis colleges. There are also year-round adult tennis camps that are renowned for their fun and top value. Accommodation is cosy condos and cottages.
A World No.1 Tennis Resort - Cliff Drysdale Amelia Island, Florida
Go here for: Tennis and resort experience, tennis camps for all ages.
Special event: Ladies Tennis Camp (twice per year).
Need to know: Two day/three night adult camps start from $836 per person, including accommodation, and tennis coaching.
The Omni Resort at Amelia Island in Florida may not be known by scores of players, but it has been named as one of the world’s best tennis resorts. Florida is a Mecca for tennis and Amelia Island is among its top locations. Tennis programs are organised on site by Cliff Drysdale Tennis, which manages several very prestigious US tennis venues. You'll find daily clinics and regular tennis events such as their ever-popular Ladies Tennis retreats (that are regularly fully-booked).
Off the court, the large resort also offers premium accommodation and amazing leisure facilities including beaches, pool, golf, spa and family-friendly activities and most importantly for tennis fans, 23 har-tru clay courts.