ISSUE NO. 4

Foul Play

©Clubhouse

AESTHETICS

Ophelia

©ClubHouse

@drone_nijmegens

COURT-SIDE STAYS

Perched near Newport’s Tennis Hall of Fame, Hotel Viking serves up luxury with a side of supernatural. Guests report late-night footsteps and icy drafts; let’s just say, you don’t want to be caught at the bottom of a stairway here. Play a few rounds of tennis, then brace yourself for some Newport charm with a ghostly twist. Sleep tight… if you can.

The Fairmont Banff Springs - known as 'The Castle in the Rockies', it delivers jaw-dropping views and a few spine-tingling surprises. Keep an eye out for the ‘Bride on the Stairs’ and a ghostly bellman still on duty. If you’re up for world-class comfort with a dash of butt-puckering mystery, this Canadian classic has you covered.

Want to know what it’s like to get ghosted? Hotel del Coronado has you covered- courtesy of Kate Morgan, the resident ghost who checked in for eternity back in 1892. Forget swiping right; if your love life is feeling a little dead, book room 3327. Kate’s got the kind of clingy vibe only a century-old heartbreak can bring. From foggy mirror messages to mysteriously flung socks, she’ll make sure you feel...seen.

At the Claremont Hotel guests report eerie whispers and flickering lights, as if the hotel holds stories from the past. Originally planned as a grand castle, a fire changed its fate, leaving behind a mansion filled with memories - and possibly a few ghosts. Enjoy access to the historic Berkeley Tennis Club, where you can rally on the courts or chase shadows down the halls.

THE PRO SHOP

FIT TO PLAY

Run…
©Clubhouse

Listen up: sprinting isn’t optional - it’s survival training. You’re not out here for some half-hearted jog; you’re here to cover that court like you’re running from every bad decision you’ve ever made. Explosive speed is what separates the players from the spectators, and if you can’t break into a full sprint at a moment’s notice, well, let’s just say you’ll be watching the ball go by like it’s your ex moving on.

So here’s the drill: 20 seconds of pure, all-out sprinting. Pretend the devil’s on your heels. Then take 40 seconds to recover, suck air, question your sanity, and prepare to do it again. Repeat until your legs feel like they’re giving out, and you’re pretty sure your spirit left your body two sprints ago.

COURT HAUNTING

The Hawaiian Gazette

Tue, Feb 07, 1911

The Manoa Tennis Courts in Honolulu are steeped in local legend, believed to be haunted by the spirit of a Japanese man from the early 1900s. In 1911, this man left a chilling suicide note, stating that if he couldn’t haunt a nearby house, he would return to the tennis courts to continue his haunting. Since then, visitors and locals alike have reported eerie sounds and unexplained phenomena around the courts, with some claiming to feel an unsettling presence while playing or walking nearby. The serene Manoa Valley setting contrasts sharply with the spooky tales that surround the courts, making it a destination not just for tennis players but for those curious about the paranormal. The haunted history adds a mysterious layer to this otherwise quiet corner of Honolulu.

Listen to the story via What School You Went?

AROUND THE NET

Florida’s Gulf Coast hides The Colony, an enormous abandoned resort that once hosted George Bush the night before 9/11. Once buzzing, now it’s a surreal, crumbling memory of its heyday.

Ever wanted to look like a tennis ball? Well here ya’ go

Pick up this vintage Agassi polo - it’s got more ghosts of matches past than your barista has ‘ironic’ tattoos.

Feeling a little dead inside? Treat yourself to a haunted house—ghosts included, screams guaranteed

For when you’ve run out of ways to show people you like tennis and burning money check out these silver-plated tennis knife rests.

As Dominic Thiem announces his retirement, let’s take a moment to celebrate his career milestones and achievements.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

©New York Daily News

In one of the most shocking incidents in sports history, tennis star Monica Seles was violently attacked on April 30, 1993, during a quarterfinal match in Hamburg, Germany. As Seles sat down for a break between games, a fanatical Steffi Graf supporter leaped from the stands, stabbing her between the shoulder blades with a 9-inch boning knife. The attacker, Gunter Parche, aimed to sideline Seles to boost Graf’s career. The brutal assault left Seles with both a serious physical injury and lasting trauma, abruptly halting her reign as the world’s No. 1 player. Though she made a courageous return to the game two years later, the stabbing cast a dark shadow over her career and forced the tennis world to confront urgent issues around athlete safety.

THIS WEEKS POLL

You wake up, disoriented and tied up, when a tape recorder clicks on, playing Jigsaw’s chilling voice. What do you hear him say first as he tells you it’s time to face your sins on the court?

A. “Ah, prideful player. Your incessant boasting has turned you into a mere shadow of what you claim to be. Today, you will confront the truth behind your arrogance—or face the echoes of your own humiliation.”

B. “Greedy one, your insatiable thirst for victory has twisted your soul. Prepare to pay the price for your deceit, for today, every point comes at a cost you may not be willing to bear.”

C. “Slothful soul, your cowardice in the face of challenge reveals your true weakness. Today, you will learn that true strength is forged in adversity—or you will remain forever stagnant.”

D. “Angry player, your rage has left a trail of destruction. In this match, your fury will be your greatest enemy. Can you contain it, or will it consume you whole?”

E. “Envious rival, your jealousy has twisted your heart into a dark reflection. Today, you will confront the shadows that fuel your resentment—or be forever trapped in their grasp.”

Last week, we asked “Which element of the game has been hardest for you to master?” With a dead even split, 25% of you said Footwork & Court Movement, while 25% said Serving with Consistency and lastly 25% of you said Generating Power & Top spin. Apparently no one struggles with Timing & Accuracy….we’ll see about that…

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Director’s Cut
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