All's fair in love and war, as the saying goes. Especially now that the famed Barcelona based Sanchez-Casal Tennis Academy opened in Naples, Florida, bringing a flicker of clay-court hope to Americans. I know, I know, you're thinking; does the U.S. really need another tennis academy? The answer - flashback to the 2007 French Open - when all nine American men in the singles draw were KO'd in the first round(!).
Intuition, dexterity, baseline power and fast footwork along with a dedication to training, the right mindset and top coaches are what have helped the Spanish and South American players dominate on clay. And with the diminishing difference in surface speeds, such weapons are also helping those players excel on grass, hard and indoor courts.
Be assured, the Sanchez-Casal Academy is not about turning U.S. players into "clay-court specialists". Rather, the owners, former Spanish pros Emilio Sanchez Vicario and Sergio Casal, are offering something different. The 44 court facility is heavy on clay court training, but the philosophy of the Academy is to apply the Spanish dedication, technique and training methods in order to create a more overall-complete player.
"Slower courts bring longer points so the physical and mental aspects of the game are equally important. We're very serious about training and give each player a lot of individual attention so that they are able to succeed." explains Thomas Anderson, a U.S. Agent for the Sanchez-Casal Academy.
Something else Anderson stressed was the Academy's focus on education. Understanding just how difficult it is to turn pro, Sanchez-Casal puts a great emphasis on education and having their junior players learn the complete game while also working towards obtaining a scholarship and a realistic future.
Additionally, two locations leads to increased diversity, as Anderson says, "The training at the Naples location is the same as Barcelona. With the second location we are able to rotate the top coaches and create an exchange program for the kids. It's a wonderful opportunity."
And who knows, maybe Sanchez Vicario and Casal will be able to coax the Latin alter-egos out of the U.S. students. After all, former American pros Jim Courier, Andre Agassi and Michael Chang have all wore the French Open crown (some even twice!).
I know, I know, you're thinking; since the American players are so good on hard court, why take on another's turf? The answer: One sport-One world.
Contact: 305-554-1124 or visit www.sanchez-casal-usa.com
