AESTHETICS

Nikki

@ronynika

Lorenzo Nencioni

COURT-SIDE STAYS

Rancho Santa Fe, CA
©Rancho Valencia

Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa is a paradise for tennis enthusiasts. With 18 beautifully maintained courts (both hard and clay surfaces), the resort offers a top-tier tennis experience, including private lessons, clinics, and tournaments that attract players from all levels. Nestled on 45 acres of gardens and citrus groves, it embodies Southern California’s blend of luxury and relaxation, offering the perfect retreat for the tennis aficionado.

COURT-SIDE PROPERTIES

New Canaan, CT
©William Raveis Real Estate

This $6.85m reimagined 1930 Tudor estate offers an idyllic retreat with historic charm, modern amenities, and scenic grounds. Spanning 4.5 acres, the property includes a private tennis court surrounded by beautiful foliage, formal gardens, and a saltwater pool (cause chlorine is for peasants). Inside, elegant stonework and wood-beamed ceilings evoke classic Tudor style, while extensive updates ensure contemporary comfort for you and your courtesan(s). 💅

THE PRO SHOP

FIT TO PLAY

©ATP Media

We’ve all been there - right on the edge, fuming, and your racquet, your supposed ally, suddenly becomes the embodiment of everything that’s gone wrong. It’s no longer just a piece of equipment; it’s the smug face of every missed shot, every bad bounce, every infuriating call. But short of hitting a ball boy, what are you going to do? No, the racquet’s the one thing you can take it out on, your silent scapegoat, the perfect guilt-free target..and it’s just sitting there…asking for it.

But here’s where the pros flip the script: instead of giving in to the urge to smash, they use cognitive reframing. Translation? Turn ‘I suck’ into ‘What can I adjust?’ Next time you shank a shot, catch yourself before you spiral. Ask, ‘What did I just do, and how can I fix it?’ Focus on each point as it comes. Missed because your grip slipped? Tighten up, and move on. It’s all about staying grounded in the moment, not obsessing over the last shot. Your racket, and your sanity, will thank you.

CLUB CIRCUIT

Philadelphia Cricket Club
Philadelphia, USA

The Philadelphia Cricket Club. If you’re over tennis clubs that feel like lifeless, polished boxes, step into something with real character. Founded in 1854, it’s been around long enough to know what real character looks like, and it’s not a “state-of-the-art” facility with zero personality. Originally a cricket club, it evolved into a tennis sanctuary, with grass courts so meticulously kept they’d make Wimbledon jealous. You’ve got hard courts and indoor options too, but let’s be real, you come here for the grass. Then there’s the architecture. Georgian Revival and Tudor-style clubhouses by Horace Trumbauer—think less “modern box” and more “Gatsby’s personal hangout.” It’s all rich wood, fine details, and history you can feel the second you walk in. This place is not here to impress you with shiny amenities; it’s here to remind you what a real club feels like. Go to play tennis, soak up history, and maybe have a drink in a clubhouse that doesn’t look like an airport lounge.

AROUND THE NET

Explore the factors behind the decline of American tennis dominance, reshaping the sport’s landscape in the U.S.

Price of Bath, England’s last independent tennis ball maker, offers a behind-the-scenes look at crafting top-quality tennis balls.

Ion Tiriac, once a pro player, transformed his success into immense wealth, becoming one of tennis’s most influential figures.

Pure Salt Interiors offers Wooden Tennis Rackets as decor, a charming reminder that tennis is always in style.

Luxury 24K Gold Tennis Racket by Leronza; perfect for when you need a tax write-off that doubles as decor.

This unique photograph of the Roosevelt Family is perfect for anyone who wants to bring a little ‘Big Stick’ energy into their decor.

A Daffy Tennis Drawing, for the tennith fan who takth the game theriouthly… but not too theriouthly.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Tennis Onboard SS Normandie

Once upon a time, travelers could play tennis while crossing the Atlantic, thanks to the SS Normandie. Launched in 1935, this Art Deco marvel wasn’t just an ocean liner; it was a showcase of French luxury. With a dining room longer than Versailles' Hall of Mirrors, golden Lalique glass pillars, opulent cabins, two-story lounges, and even a theater, the Normandie set a new standard for elegance at sea.

But its grandeur was short-lived. Requisitioned during WWII and renamed the USS Lafayette, the Normandie tragically caught fire in 1942 while docked in New York Harbor, ultimately capsizing. Despite its fate, the Normandie remains an icon of an era when transatlantic travel was a glamorous affair, complete with amenities like tennis at sea.

Watch this in-depth video about SS Normandie via Big Old Boats

Watch this old news real of it’s tragic end

THIS WEEKS POLL

When do you play your best tennis?

A. Early Mornings - Crisp & Cool

B. Midday - Warm & Sunny

C. Late Afternoon - Golden Hour

D. Evenings - Under the Lights

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Thanks for reading.

Until next time, we’ll see you out there.

©ATP Media

2024 Paris Masters

Congratulations to Alexander Zverev