After watching Serena and Carlito win their first match, I would have to say it brings a great deal of interest to the game. Encouraging the world's best singles players to play mixed doubles can only benefit the game's profile. It's rare not to see the men enjoying themselves whether they win or lose which is also nice to see. Rublev smiling lights up the court and his personality.

A couple of X video posts showing Rublev having fun -
The Rublev smile 
&
Rublev jumping at the same time as Andreeva smashes! 

Serena also showed her amazing mental skills when she takes charge on big point returns - a reminder of what a great player she is!

Will Wimbledon follow the lead of the US with mixed doubles and the Oz open with the one point slam event? I doubt it as Wimbledon would be reluctant to use the grass courts before the main events. What could Roland Garros organisers do to help raise the game's profile? I would copy the mixed event but still have the normal mixed doubles slam at the same time. Wimbledon has tradition as it's main selling point and it's difficult to argue with as the players seem to love it.

Any other ideas out there?
[email protected]


Stan the Man Refused a Wildcard for US Open
In my view, this is a very strange decision for a legend of the sport and a former US Open champion. Stan's grace and humility shine through with his reaction below.“When I first arrived in New York from a small farming village in Switzerland, everything felt too big. The city. The noise. The energy. The crowds. The lights. But year after year New York slowly became one of my favorite places in the world,” he wrote.
"This city challenged me. It pushed me. It brought something out of me that few places ever could. I experienced some of the strongest emotions of my career here: the battles, the late nights, the incredible atmosphere, the love from the crowd … memories that will stay with me forever. Winning the US Open, in the city that never sleeps, will forever be one of the greatest moments of my life."

Stan will always be the man!

NEWSFLASH
Good news for Stan, he will now be playing in the US Open Main Draw. Patrick Kypson, previously awarded a main draw wild card, withdrew with an injury.

Tennis & Padel Holiday – Trapani, Sicily
12–19 September & 19–26 September
(Adults Only) 
We’re looking forward to our upcoming Tennis & Padel Weeks in Sicily!
We still have a few spaces available, so if you’ve been thinking about joining us, now’s the time to get booked in!
Simply get yourself to Trapani, Sicily, and we’ll take care of the rest. We can help you find accommodation to suit your budget, arrange airport transfers, and make sure you have a fantastic week both on and off the court.
£595 per person (excluding flights & accommodation)
 Your week includes:

• 20+ hours of organised tennis & padel
• Professional coaching and game-based sessions
• Tennis doubles clinic
• Social tennis & fun padel sessions — beginners welcome!
• Tennis & padel tournament with prizes
• Welcome drink on Saturday evening
• Daily morning transfers to the tennis club
• Free use of padel rackets
• A fantastic day trip to the beautiful island of Favignana, including a boat trip, bike hire and guided tour
• Ian & Laura’s support throughout the week
• Group dinner on Monday evening (meals not included)
• Final awards dinner on Friday evening (meals not included)

And it’s not all about the sport! Away from the courts, there’s plenty of time to explore the beautiful historic town of Trapani, enjoy its fantastic restaurants and seafront, and soak up the relaxed Sicilian lifestyle.
Our Favignana day gives you the chance to explore one of Sicily’s most stunning islands, with ferry tickets and bike hire included.
Whether you’re travelling on your own, with friends, or with a non-playing partner, it’s the perfect combination of tennis, padel, sightseeing, sunshine and Italian hospitality. 
And if your partner or friend would rather leave the rackets at home, they’re very welcome to join the social activities and excursions too!
A few spaces are still available — come and join us in Sicily! 

For more information or to reserve your place, please contact [email protected]

What on Earth Does Tennis Have to Do with The Odyssey?
Bill Simons from Inside Tennis just wrote a very interesting piece with the title above.
Click HERE if you'd like to read it.
In essence Bill Simons compares the journey of self discovery that Odysseus (Matt Damon) took with that of a tennis player throughout their career.Well worth a read.
I just saw the film, but it didn't work for me; You might love it so don't let me discourage you from seeing it, as the reviews appear to be mixed.
I did love the scenery but I only just realised (Laura told me) that they used the Santa Caterina castle on the beautiful island of Favignana. We spend a day on this wonderful island during our special hosted week in Trapani in September. The crew and cast of The Odyssey had to trek up the hill every day to shoot the film but don't worry; we enjoy a delightful granita and lunch at one of our favourite beach bars with a view of the castle. You can make the trek up if you like and wave to us from the top!

Places to eat in Trapani, Sicily
As with all our holidays a big part of the trip is eating in authentic local restaurants where Italians go.
In Trapani here are a few of our favourites:
CANTINA SICILIANA
It remains a local favourite despite Stanley Tucci visiting recently. It's famous for the best seafood couscous in the area. This dish is a regional classic with a strong Arab influence from the past.
RISTORANTE SANTA CHIARA 19
One of our favourites in Trapani where we usually end up for the final meal and awards. They even made us a lovely dessert last year.
They specialise in traditional Trapanese dishes.
EATING ON THE WALLS OF TRAPANI OVERLOOKING THE SEA
There are a few eating places along the walls of Trapani where you can enjoy a classic meal, an aperitivo or a pizza. There are many places to choose from, and they are very popular when the sun goes down.

2026 US Open Mixed Doubles Event
The US Open will soon be upon us with or without Alcaraz and Draper but let's hope that they both make it.

The controversial mixed event is happening again during the fans week prior to the start of the main draws. It certainly brought in a lot of fans last year which has to be a good thing.

On the plus side it allows us to see the famous singles players out of their comfort zone on a doubles court and the event is generally played in a great spirit allowing us to see the softer side of many personalities. 

The main down side is that regular mixed doubles teams have fewer opportunities to compete at a slam, so I'd be hoping for Errani and Vavassori to win again.

Having Novak and Sabalenka play together will attract a lot of attention and no doubt lots of awkward dance moves from both of them!

It's a shame that the only couple on the tour, Mr. and Mrs. De Minaur, didn't make the cut.

Overall I'm for it but would rather that the US Open also included a normal mixed event.2026 US Open Mixed Doubles Championship pairs
 WTA Player          ATP Player

1. Aryna Sabalenka             Novak Djokovic
2. Elena Rybakina               Taylor Fritz
3. Mirra Andreeva              Andrey Rublev
4. Iga Swiatek                    Casper Ruud
5. Belinda Bencic                 Flavio Cobolli
6. Diana Shnaider               Daniil Medvedev
7. Amanda Anisimova          Learner Tien
8. Alexandra Eala               Felix Auger-Aliassime
9. Leylah Fernandez           Frances Tiafoe
10. Taylor Townsend          Alexander Zverev
11. Elena- Gabriela Ruse     Nuno Borges
12. Jessica Pegula              Jack Draper
13. Naomi Osaka                Kei Nishikori
14. Sara Errani                  Andrea Vavassori
15. Katerina Siniakova       Henry Patten
16. Peyton Stearns            Preston Stearns    ​

Tennis & Padel Holiday – Trapani, Sicily
12–19 September & 19–26 September
(Adults Only)
Simply get yourself to Trapani, Sicily, and we'll do the rest! We can help you find accommodation to suit your budget, arrange airport transfers, and ensure you enjoy a fantastic week both on and off the court.
£595 per person (excluding flights and accommodation)
Your week includes:

• 20+ hours of organised tennis & padel
• Professional coaching and game-based sessions
• Tennis doubles clinic
• Social tennis and fun padel sessions (beginners welcome)
• Tennis & padel tournament with prizes
• Welcome drink on Saturday evening
• Daily morning transfers to the tennis club
• Free use of padel rackets
• On the Wednesday a day trip to the beautiful island of Favignana which includes boat trip, bike hire and a guided tour
• Ian & Laura's support throughout the week
• Away from the courts, you'll have time to discover the beautiful historic town of Trapani, enjoy the local restaurants and seafront, and spend a relaxing day exploring the stunning island of Favignana, including ferry tickets and bike hire.
• A group dinner is arranged on Monday evening, with a final awards dinner on Friday to celebrate the week together (meals not included).

Whether you're travelling on your own, with friends, or with a non-playing partner, this holiday offers the perfect combination of tennis, padel, sightseeing and Italian hospitality.

If your partner or friend would prefer a relaxing holiday without the sport but would like to join in the social activities and excursion, they're very welcome.
 
For more information or to reserve your place, please contact [email protected]

Visit our website HERE for more information.

 

Wimbledon Talking Points  
It's that time of year again when everyone is talking about tennis (and there is a small football tournament happening at the same time). 

But what are the key talking points?

1. Serena Williams gets a singles wild card but Dan Evans doesn't get one! Given the hype, I can understand why they gave Serena one but it's a bit tough on Dan Evans not to get one after all he has done for British tennis in Davis Cups, not to mention helping Andy Murray finish on a high in the Olympics while sabotaging his own ranking. Dan does get a wild card for the doubles with his new pupil Henry Searle. Apart from the Brits, wild cards have also been given to Grigor Dimitrov and Stan Wawrinka — both good choices in my view.

2. Alcaraz is not playing making Sinner the strong favourite but where is he at physically? We will soon find out.

3. Can Jack Draper make an impact? Let's hope so as he is such a dangerous player and will have Andy Murray's advice to help guide him through (hopefully) the early rounds. If his body holds up then he could be a contender.

4. Both Raducanu and Boulter have shown good grass court form with some notable performances in the lead-up. If the draw is kind, making the second week would be a big success for both in my view, but they are unlikely to go further.

5. Apart from Sinner who else can win? Now that Zverev has won the French he might be in a better place mentally to challenge? Grass is definitely Novak's best chance of winning another slam, given his experience on the surface and shorter rallies. In my opinion, there are many other good players but none can challenge the big three: Sinner, Djokovic, and Zverev.

6. In the women's draw, it's all up for grabs with no clear favourite but I'd watch out for Barbora Krejčíková, who is great on grass but again, it depends if her body holds up?

7. The best anti grass comment ever

• Ivan Lendl (8-time Grand Slam champion, never won Wimbledon):
  
  "Grass is for cows."
  
  This is probably the most famous anti-grass quote in tennis history. Lendl reportedly said it after skipping Wimbledon early in his career, and it followed him for decades.
• ​
  

Final Comment
No Scotland no party - it's not possible to avoid mentioning the World Cup and I feel sorry for Brazil that they will have the daunting task of challenging Scotland for a place in the knockouts!
I seriously do wish England well and hope that their supporters can match ours in diplomatic relations when in Boston. I've lived through so many of our Scotland defeats that it would be amazing to finally be involved in the knockout stages. It's time for another overhead kick........ ​

Rome 2026 Recap 
Thanks so much to everyone who attended our trips to Rome in May for the Italian Open. These are proving to be very popular trips, featuring an ever improving venue, perfect weather and just great company. A special shout out to Bryce from Canada whose fun and entertaining personality contributed greatly to the group bonding. Bryce is positioning himself as a rival to Naomi Osaka for the title of trendiest tennis player on the planet. His attention to detail and colour coordination goes beyond what most club players would aspire to but we love him for it!                                           

Due to the popularity of these trips, we have already planned for 2027 and taken some bookings!

If interested click HERE.

How does playing padel help your tennis?
I recently opened Racket Barn, a new indoor padel and pickleball centre in Glasgow. I'd say that the majority of the tennis players who play padel regularly at our centre are experiencing an improvement in their tennis volleys and smashes.

This is mainly due to the volume of volleys and smashes that you hit in padel compared to tennis. The technique for volleys is also very similar in both sports apart from the swingy vibora shot in padel (which I have yet to master).

Lobs are also used often in padel which is an extremely important shot in tennis doubles in particular. Also, the footwork required to move back for a smash is the same in both sports, and since it happens often in padel, it's another transferable skill.

I am explaining these similarities and mutual benefits because I often hear tennis players worry that playing padel will negatively affect their tennis game. In my opinion it couldn't be farther from the truth, as I explained above. 

So..... why not join us in Sicily at the end of summer where you can develop both your tennis and padel skills at the same time? 

Trapani - 12th to 19th & 19th to 26th September
Click HERE for more info.

Did anyone see the new Stanley Tucci programme on Disney+ where he is touring Sicily in one episode, and he visited Trapani, the town where we host our special tennis/padel holidays? This was a great advert for our amazing location in Sicily. It's a wonderful series of his culinary and cultural trips around Italy which helps one understand the beauty and various charms of Italy.

​Sinner is out so who will win the French Open??                   
Unbelievably Sinner lost in the French Open after experiencing a total loss of energy that he attributed to an illness and not the extreme heat! He was 2 sets and 5-1 up and then only won 2 more games!

This is a great opportunity for someone else to win a slam after Sinner and Alcaraz have dominated for so long.

The top half of the draw is wide open with no real favourites in my opinion. I would give Cobolli the edge in this half but only just with so many other strong clay court players like Tabillo, Francisco Cerundolo and Berrettini. 

The lower half is much stronger with Zverev the favourite but I would think that Djokovic will be delighted that Sinner is out. He has a tough draw needing to get past Fonseca and then maybe Ruud. If he can manage that without expending too much energy, he will be so hard to beat. I hope and think that Ruud could go all the way as he is playing so well and has been in the final before. My outside bet would be on the new young Spanish player, Jodar, who would need to get past Zverev but he has the game to do it.

This is great for the men's game, as there will be a very good chance of a new first time slam champion obviously if Novak doesn't pull it off which would also be good for the game in my view.

All thoughts welcome.

Ian
[email protected] 

​​4. A freshly watered and perfectly dragged clay court, with crisp white lines and that rich red surface glowing in the sun, is one of the most beautiful sights in sport. It belongs in an art gallery. Nietzsche said life is justified through an aesthetic lens — I am choosing to believe he had a soft spot for clay courts.
5. Modern tennis needs clay courts more than ever. They give spectators rallies, variety, creativity, and drama. You see more shapes, more patterns, more problem-solving, and a far greater range of shots. By contrast, men’s doubles at the highest level on hard or grass can sometimes feel over in a blink, with points lasting three shots or fewer.
​
So, if you would like to experience the joy of playing on a beautiful clay court — and then watch the world’s best players battle it out in the spectacular marble arenas of the Italian Open — why not join us in Rome from 11–15 May?

(Click through to our Rome Masters web page HERE)

The countdown to Rome has started: May 11th – 15th

From Monty Python's Life of Brian
​So... "What have the Romans ever done for us then? Apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, a fresh water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?" 
In modern times I would argue that the Romans have given us the best clay court tournament in the world.

Here are some of the main reasons why it’s so special:
1. One of the most beautiful venues in tennisThe tournament takes place in the historic sports complex of Foro Italico in Rome.
What makes it unique:

• Marble statues line the walkways around the courts
• Classical Italian architecture surrounds the stadiums
• The famous Stadio Pietrangeli court is literally built inside a statue garden

Many players call it one of the most visually stunning places to play tennis.
2. The best clay-court warm-up before Roland-GarrosThe Italian Open is one of the final and most important clay tournaments before the French Open.
Why players value it:

• Conditions are similar to Paris
• It attracts almost every top player from the ATP Tour and WTA Tour
• Winning here is considered a huge indicator of Roland-Garros form.

3. Passionate Italian crowdsItalian fans bring incredible energy:

• Loud and emotional support
• Packed stadiums for local players
• Night sessions with a football-like atmosphere

When Italians like Jannik Sinner or Matteo Berrettini play, the atmosphere becomes electric.
4. Rome itself elevates the tournamentFew tournaments are located in a city as iconic as Rome.
Players and fans can enjoy:

• Ancient sites like the Colosseum
• Italian food and culture
• Warm Mediterranean spring weather

The combination of world-class tennis + historic city makes the experience unforgettable.

In short: the Italian Open blends elite clay-court tennis, a historic setting, passionate crowds, and the culture of Rome—making it one of the most beloved tournaments outside the Grand Slams.
We only have a few spaces left on our Rome Masters Tennis Trip May 11–15 - 

What's included (in addition to Ian and Laura's expertise 24/7)

• 4 nights at the 4 star River Chateau Hotel including breakfast
• Welcome drink at hotel on evening of 11th May - 6-7pm
• 2 hours group coaching each morning 9 - 11am on 12th, 13th & 14th May at a local club
• Grand Stand Arena tickets (stadium court) 12th May, with Centre Court tickets (Campo Centrale) for the afternoon sessions on 13th & 14th May. Tickets also include access to the grounds from start to end of play each day, including all practice and outside courts.

Full details at this link HERE

​To lag or not to lag that is the question?
I see a lot of information online about using lag on the forehand. Is lag the key to improving racket head speed?On a good forehand, racket lag usually happens naturally when:

• you load and rotate well
• your hand leads
• the racket head stays back briefly
• then it releases through contact

That lag can help with racket-head speed and topspin. But trying to “manufacture” extra lag often causes:

• late contact
• wristy swings
• loss of control
• arm or wrist strain

Best approach:

• focus on the unit turn, spacing, and leading with the body and hand
• keep the wrist relaxed, not floppy
• let the lag appear as a result of good mechanics

So: use it, but don’t force it. Natural lag is good. Artificial lag is usually harmful.
A simple cue is: turn, lead with the hand, then release through the ball.
​
Or even better come on a
Tuscan Tennis Holiday
and we'll show you how to do it!

All comments welcome - [email protected]

New Grand Stand Arena at the Rome Masters!
There will be a new stadium court built for the Rome Masters which will be in a great position near the Olympic swimming pool. This will replace the older arena (of the same name) and is a great addition for our special Rome trips in May.
Stadium tickets which are part of our special 4 day trips to Rome also allow access to the wonderful outside courts which have lots of seating and great viewing, and also access to the practice courts.
We are now full for the 7-11 May but still have some spaces on the 11-15 May trip. Full details at this link HERE
 
11th to 15th May 2026 (Adults Only)
What's included (in addition to Ian and Laura's expertise 24/7)

• 4 nights at the 4 star River Chateau Hotel including breakfast
• Welcome drink at hotel on evening of 11th May - 6-7pm
• 2 hours group coaching each morning 9 - 11am on 12th, 13th & 14th May at a local club
• Grand Stand Arena tickets (stadium court) 12th May, with Centre Court tickets (Campo Centrale) for the afternoon sessions on 13th & 14th May. Tickets also include access to the grounds from start to end of play each day, including all practice and outside courts.

Cost: 
£1,595 per person (based on two sharing a classic room) or £1895 per person (based on 2 sharing a junior suite)
£1,795 per person (single room use) - limited single rooms available 
(Excluding flights/airport transfers/local council tax at hotel - 7.50€ per person per night)
£200 deposit per person to secure place
​
Player to look out for at the Slams
(and in Rome too!)
Jakub Mensik
20 year old Mensik looks like the real deal in the way he disposed of Jannik Sinner in Qatar. His ball striking and mental stability is quite impressive and in addition he has one of the best serves on the tour.  
If I were a gambler, I'd put money on him winning a slam at some point. Anyone who can outhit Sinner has to be a force to be reckoned with.

Is it better to rally or play points in order to improve your tennis?
Instagram and the internet always provide "interesting" points of view. I've seen a few recently where the coach is advocating for people to play points rather than rallying to make real progression in the game. His argument is that rallying is nothing like the game where you are trying to receive the ball well and send it to difficult places for your opponent etc. Obviously this is the case in matchplay but I would argue that feeding balls for someone to get a feel of a better or more effective technique also has its place. 
 
When a player feels more in control of a shot , they can progress to doing it with movement with conditioned drills and finally to open play. The development of stress should be progressive or it would be like learning to swim by being thrown in at the deep end. You may learn to survive but maybe not have a great technique.
 
There are so many factors in learning to play tennis and as much as I would love the easy option of a simple approach of just playing points it just ain't that easy in my view! I am all for playing points in many shapes and forms but it is only one element of a multi faceted approach to improve your game. If you look at the training on court of many of the famous pros they will do similar drills including hand feeds, basket feeds, rally feeds and many other feeds depending upon  what outcome they are trying to achieve.
 
Be careful what you watch online and always question why they are doing it. Tennis is a tricky game to learn with no easy answers unfortunately.

As always all comments welcome, Ian
[email protected]