Tennis in the Portuguese sunshine

Peter Fryer about how nice is playing tennis in the sunshine and meeting Judy Murray.

‘Hi I’m Judy, nice to meet you’

‘Hi, I’m Peter, my pleasure.’

Wow, did I just meet Judy Murray? I did my best to play it cool, sure it’s not every day you get to meet a world class tennis coach. She made me feel instantly at ease, she was relaxed and very funny.

Not every day do you get the chance to spend some time on court with Judy Murray. The Scottish coach is the mother to grand slam champions Andy and Jamie Murray and former GB Fed Cup captain. Judy was in Portugal directing a Tennis Camp at the Campus, the newly opened 5-star resort in Algarve’s Quinta do Lago. Judy acts as a tennis consultant to the resort and directs and advises the tennis team. She has also committed to taking 4-week long tennis camps for up and coming little Andy Murray’s and Jo Konta’s.
Rain and Wind.

Why sunshine tennis

Playing tennis in the sunshine has always appealed to me. After all being from a rainy island in the North Atlantic has meant I have mostly played in adverse weather conditions should that be rain, wind or snow! Heavy balls, caked in mud, gusty winds make a difficult game even harder. The experience of playing in good weather is something I do not get to enjoy very frequently so you can imagine the opportunity to play in pleasant conditions would be a massive draw.

About Qinta do Lago

Quinta do Lago is a luxury resort in the Ria Formosa nature reserve in the Algarve region of southern Portugal. The area boasts stunning flora and fauna 2000 acres of beautiful Portuguese countryside. Long sandy beaches, crystal clear water and of course 300 days of sunshine a year make it a perfect spot for the premier sports resort in the world. It’s a little over two hours 30 mins from the UK and with flights throughout the year it is incredibly accessible.

The Campus

The Campus is at the centre of the Quinta do Lago resort and is designed to offer professional level coaching to all visitors and guests. Being a huge tennis fan, I was immediately attracted to the tennis court facilities. The courts are nestled into the centre of the Campus facilities. The Campus boasts two clay courts and 4 hard courts all floodlit meaning you can play right throughout the year. There are also four padel courts, one of the fastest growing games in the world. The Campus has assembled a world-class line-up of coaching professionals to allow you to improve your game.

The Verdict

Who doesn’t love playing tennis under blue skies and sunshine? It is not hard to work out why tennis camps are so popular among tennis players. The Campus is a great facility, the surroundings are exquisite, and the coaching professionals are all top in their field. The Rehabilitation and Recovery suite is also a nice touch especially if you want to relieve tired muscles and get a massage. As a tennis tourist, I would have no hesitation in returning to the Campus. What a great place.