"Get a good night's sleep," teaching pro Mike Hinkle counseled when we met the day before I was to start this renowned tennis-camp program at Saddlebrook Resort. Having attended before, I knew what to expect. For five hours a day, Saddlebrook Tennis serves up a grueling regimen designed at once to improve technique and push the envelope of your stamina and endurance. The format owes everything to the training techniques of the legendary Australian Davis Cup coach Harry Hopman. Partly for that reason it draws current touring pros—think James Blake, Bob and Mike Bryan, Mardy Fish, John Isner, Justine Henin—aspiring juniors, and committed adults with its blend of rigorous workouts and full resort amenities, the latter furnished by the resort community of Saddlebrook, where the tennis academy is headquartered.

Overview

Saddlebrook Resort garnered awards for its design when it opened in 1982. The 480-acre layout, 25 miles north of Tampa, places the hotel, restaurants, shops, a lakesize swimming pool, tennis courts, spa, golf clubhouse, and meeting rooms at the center of a halo of golf fairways, condos, and residential neighborhoods. Centralizing all of the major amenities creates what they call a "Walking Village."

This is hardly the setting you'd expect for the mother of all hard-core tennis camps, but having all those amenities provides relief from the rigors of the daily regimen while its guard gate provides privacy and security. Its juniors, both live-in and short term, hope the

The very philosophy of the program is to push you to the point that your game breaks down, find what is salvageable in the rubble, and rebuild from there. That said, after my last visit I came away thinking that this approach has mellowed somewhat in recent years. In my early participation in the Hopman program, as it was known then, I remember being chastised for ignoring a feed too wide for me to reach, only to have the next fed wider until I learned that it was crucial to make an attempt even when you thought you had no chance of reaching the balls. I remember, too, the so-called "bucket of ball" drills and "kamikaze" drills that had you scampering right and left and back again until you pleaded exhaustion or the pro was convinced you'd had enough.

My sense is that while the regimen remains demanding the boot-camp approach has been abandoned. Hinkle was a taskmaster, and barked his displeasure when we made the same error over and over, but I suspect that now that Howard Moore is overseeing the adult curriculum there's been a stylistic change—less in your face while still pushing campers to their limits. The syllabus stresses the so-called "modern game": open stances, shorter backswings, aggressive putaways, swinging volleys.

In general you stay with the same pro throughout your stay (barring his or her days off), so they oversee your progress first-hand. They tailor the work to the abilities of the campers they oversee. Rather than stand in one place and hit picture-perfect strokes, you pretty much have to run for every ball. Like the pros, you'll do a lot of two-on-one drills, and if your skills permit it live-ball drills with the other campers on your court. The process can be exhilarating, demoralizing, or both, but you will come away from this program knowing where you stand with respect to your aerobic conditioning and what you really need to do to take your game to the next level.

Tennis Features

Pro Shop: 800-729-8383

If courts alone were the measure of a great tennis resort, then Saddlebrook would rank near the top. It has 45 courts altogether, including hard, clay, red clay, Rebound Ace (the surface formerly used at the Australian Open) and grass, all of which—the grass included—are available to guests. The major complex is near the center of the resort, which is also where the pro shop and Hopman office are located. There is a secondary complex a 10-minute walk (or free shuttle ride) away in Lakeside Village, which is also the site of the 3,000-square-foot fitness center and Etcheberry Performance complex. All of the courts are laid out in clusters of two to five separated by an awning-covered patio furnished with chairs and a refrigerated water fountain.

Tennis Staff. Although Harry Hopman, the legendary Australian Davis Cup coach, died in 1985, the organization he built survives. It is administered now by one of his former staff, Howard Moore, who was a camper himself at New York's Port Washington Academy during the era when Hopman ran that program and aspiring juniors like John McEnroe and Peter Fleming were there. Moore is very much a hands-on director, greeting everyone possible, handling the morning and afternoon warm-up exercises, participating in demos, and sometimes teaching. The junior and professional programs are overseen by Alvaro Betancur. A Columbia native, Betancur has over 30 years of elite tennis experience, including 11 years on the ATP pro tour. He's been with the Hopman organization for more than two decades.
Saddlebrook puts its new instructors through an apprenticeship program. Among the most important skills they have to learn is the ability to work four people very hard while giving each individual attention. The nature of the program means that instructors must have not only solid tennis skills but enthusiasm as well.
Tennis Programs. Although the resort itself offers some perfunctory stroke-of-the-day clinics (run by tennis-academy staff), the real reason a tennis player would come here is the Hopman-inspired camps.
The program begins with an excellent series of stretching exercises conducted by Howard Moore himself. That is followed by a 3-hour session, a break for lunch, and then a 2-hour afternoon session. Campers are divided into groups of no more than 4 (and often fewer) and assigned a pro, who works with them throughout their stay (barring his days off, of course). There are breaks for fruit, bottled water, or Gatorade. Moore and his staff devote a lot of effort to ensuring not only at getting the on-court groupings right—not just their playing levels but even their personalities and work ethics—but also matching the players to the pro. The premise is that the pro acts as your coach, knows what you're working on and what kind of progress you're making, and thus provides continuity.
Once the drills end, at 3 or 3:30 p.m., there is sometimes a group gathering, which could be anything from drinks with the pros at TD's Sports Bar or a serve contest or, in high season, quick clinic on the grass and red-clay so you can experience how different those two surfaces are.
If you're here on your own and looking for company at dinner, those after-drill sessions are your best shot at hooking up with other campers in the same situation. Unlike some other dedicated facilities and college-campus programs, Hopman's does not include any meals other than breakfast in the package, so for other dining you're left to fend for yourself at the quite good but pricey restaurants at the resort itself or pile into cars for trips beyond the resort.
Courts Fees. $14/hour for singles,$18/hour for doubles, but complimentary to those in the Hopman program or on tennis packages.
Caveat: The Saddlebrook program is among the most physically demanding of all the camps, so start a workout regimen weeks before you come down. Bring two pairs of tennis shoes, several changes of clothes (washers and dryers are available in each lodging cluster), a hat, sunblock, two racquets if you have them (broken strings are commonplace), and overgrip.

Your Call

Here's what others have had to say about Saddlebrook Resort and Saddlebrook Tennis (Hopman).

• "This was absolutely the greatest tennis experience for my 10 year old daughter Valentina. Howard, Nona, Gregg, Doug and all the rest of the fantastic staff at Hopman take their time are thorough and professional. The tennis resort has amåle tennis facilities and staff so even though there can be 120 kids playing a session the the coach/player ratio is never more than 4/1 and this makes for a very successful and personal practice experience.
  We will definitely be back, as soon as we can!!!!"—G.G., Beg., July 2008

• ""—J.M., Low Int., July 2008

• ""—V.M., Adv., July 2008

• "08.15 am Monday 9th June Court 10 Saddlebrook Tennis Resort. John Fritz (Tennis Coach) "Ok Paul lets prepare that racquet earlier!' (Me) "John, I have only hit 10 balls and it's mini tennis at the service line!" John Fritz "No matter, it's a bad fault that you have and you need to start the racquet back much earlier and then accelerate through the shot".
  Rewind to 07.50 and 50 kids with various adults of all ages are starting the daily warm up of Jogging and Stretching. This lasts about 10 minuets. Howard Moore (Program Director of Hopman Tennis at Saddlebrook) then calls everyone together, players and coaches, for the morning demonstration. Howard is a one off. Totally committed to what he is doing and his enthusiasm is infectious. This morning the demonstration is about forehands and net clearance.
  This follows Nadal's total domination and destruction of Federer in the French Open Tennis Final. Whilst Howard talks us through the technical make up of the modern forehand two of his coaches fire the ball cross-court clearing the net by 6 feet and landing the ball a meter inside the baseline. They rarely miss. Howard then asks them to lower the height of the ball over the net and the pace picks up. All the while Howard is pointing out what to look for.
  And so 5 hours of top class tennis instruction and drills begins. Take in the 5-day course and I defy anyone NOT to come away a better, fitter and more knowledgeable tennis player. It does not matter how old or young you are or if you are a beginner or advance player, everyone will leave this fantastic facility a better player. At the same time you will be having fun doing it!
  This is the 3rd time I have been to Saddlebrook in just over a year and having visited various Tennis facilities in the USA and Europe I recommend Harry Hopman Tennis and the Saddlebrook to everyone. If you are holidaying as a single, a couple or a family this is the No1 Tennis experience combining outstanding accommodation, onsite eating, leisure facilities and Spa. At value for money prices I truly believe Hopman and Saddlebrook can’t be beaten.
  Play Hard, Work Harder, Have Fun and Enjoy!"—P.I., Int., June 2008

• "I recently spent 5 days at Saddlebrook Resort while visiting my daughter and her family. I'm an over-50 4.5 took 3 1-hour private hitting lessons over 3 days with teaching pro Michael Cisek. He was phenomenal - technically proficient as well as a good teacher. I picked up some useful pointers that improved my game while also getting a seriously good cardio workout."—D.B., Adv. Int., June 2008

• "My wife and I recently spent a week at the Saddlebrook Resort participating in the 5-day Hopman Tennis program. We're both active players at a 4.0+ level and this is the fifth tennis resort/camp that we've experienced in North America.
  Considering the combination of the setting, the level of service of the resort, and the quality of the tennis instruction, Saddlebrook would be our top pick. While the group lessons were extremely valuable, the 1:1 session with the program director, Howard Moore, was invaluable."—B.M., Adv. Int., June 2008

• "I attended the Hopman camp because I have played little tennis since a full hip replacement in 2000. I had previously attended Hopman's in 1990& 1991 and thought that they could help my return to playing regular tennis. While I expected to have a "tune-up" I ended up with a complete rebuilding on my game and now use an eastern grip and hit with topspin for the first time( I had been taught in the late 50's when everyone was instructed to use a continental grip and a flatter swing).
  The instruction was excellent especially John Fritz and Vladimir. I found the whole staff to be very helpful and responsive to one's constant questions. Changing your game completely in one week at my age(62) was not easy but the rewards are worth it. Thanks all! I'll be back for a refresher."—M.B., Int., June 2008

• "I just went to Saddlebrook with a great friend for a weekend of tennis. What a treat! The staff, especially Nona and Vald, were fantastic. We arrived late afternoon on Thursday. We were greeted with enthusiasm and an invitation to join the group even though our official first day of tennis was not until the next morning. Nona went out of her way to include us in the activities and introduce us to the our fellow players. Our first full day of tennis was Friday. We were assinged to Vald - a fantastic pro from Cuba. It was just my friend, myself and one other player for the morning session. Vlad did a great job of identifying what each of us needed/wanted to work on and incorporating that into the workout. That afternoon and the entire day on Saturday we had Vlad all to our selves! Talk about personalized coaching. Of course, there was an option to ask for different coaches in the event you were looking for a more diverse experience. We, however, really enjoyed Vlad and were learning so much and having even more fun that we saw absolutely no reason to mess with a good thing! I have been to other tennis clinics and particularly enjoyed Saddlebrook for several reasons: 1) whether you stay with the same pro the whole visit or not, you stay with one pro at least for each session/day. I personally like this approach much better than switching pros throughout a session. It provides much more continuity and opportunity to really work on technique/strokes with someone who knows what your issues are - rather than just running through and hitting lots of balls without meaningful instruction. 2) Ratio - how can you beat a full day of 2-1! or even 3-1, or at the very most 4-1? The factilities were top notch. The courts were in great shape and managed well. They took very good care of us even while a national juniors tournament was going on. What a treat to see those kids play! The one thing we were surprised about was the fact that pretty much all the courts were clay. We are from Texas and play exclusively on hard court. It was a surprise but by the end of the 2 1/2 days we really understood the benefit of the clay! The resort was also a treat. It was great to have a beautiful poor, cold beer and nice restaurants on site after a long day of tennis. The rooms were well appointed and very comfortable. The resort is very large though so be prepared to do some walking. The only complaint we had was the lunch options were limited. Breakfast was included in our package and entailed a beautiful buffet with pretty much anything you could want. Dinner options were great also. Lunch however was a bit skimpy. Overall we had a fantastic experience and look forward to going back next year! I have highly recommended Saddlebook to my friends and do the same to you."—K.K., Adv. Int., June 2008

• "Just returned from my second trip to Saddlebrook and I had a blast! I absolutely love the adult tennis program. John was absolutely the best instructor ever. 5 hours per day of tennis was work, but worth every second. Hit tons of balls and got great instruction. Planning my next visit already!
  The rooms at the resort are great. Very comfortable. Very reasonable prices. Can't say enough positive things about Saddlebrook. I am a strong 3.5 player looking to move up to 4.0 and with the stuff I learned, I am hoping that this will be my season to do it! Highly recommend."—C.B., Adv. Int., May 2008

• "Just returned from a long weekend at the Hopman program. The Hopman director, Howard Moore, and his team always do an excellent job for me, and this trip was no exception. I was very well matched on court for my level (3.5-4.0) - good group of players available. Both Matt and Alban were a pleasure to work with - the drills were demanding, but we had a lot of fun in the process. I also had some on court time with Howard, who helped a lot in a short time.
  I'm excited about what I've learned, and can't wait to make use of it in my next match. And I will definitely return for another trip."—M.P., Adv. Int., May 2008

• ""—K.E., Adv. Int., May 2008

• "We just returned from 3 days of Saddlebrook tennis camp, which was great. This was my 2nd trip this year and my 9 1/2 year old daughter's 1st trip to Saddlebrook. She thoroughly enjoyed the tennis and working with her tennis pros whom she said was a lot of fun.
  Most of the time, she was with one other girl in her group which allowed her to hit a lot of tennis balls. She even spent a little time with Howard Moore, director of the tennis program, who is an excellent coach and was also very hands on with other players in the camp.
  I had Martin as a coach, who is also excellent, and was very good at offering tips to eliminate my "bad habits' acquired through the years of playing tennis. I also had some one-on-one time with Martin (since 2 other players in my group were taken off for a semi private lesson with Howard) to focus on what I would like to improve or work on most in my tennis game. Howard/Nona were constantly checking to make sure that the players were happy with their groups/coaches. The doubles match play or the "beat the tennis pros" games at the end of the afternoon sessions were also a lot of fun. The stretching at the beginning of the morning and afternon sessions were very useful. And Howard's commentary on the stroke demonstration by the coaches for the day was clear and precise, plus the stroke demonstration offered a good visual "role model". Overall, a great intensive tennis camp for someone who likes to play a lot of tennis. The resort is beautifully laid out and you feel that you are getting away from it all and having a vacation. I did not use the Spa this time around, but it is excellent. A weakness of the resort is the food at the on-site restaurant, although excellent, is rather limited. I believe the menu hasnt changed in 2 years!!!!"—W.C., Adv., May 2008

Other Recreation

Golf Courses. Saddlebrook has two 18-hole courses, both designed by Arnold Palmer, and an Arnold Palmer Golf Academy. Tee times for any of the following courses can be reserved by calling 813-973-1111, ext. 4653.

Palmer Course: This course is characterized by open, undulating fairways, and an abundance of lakes, streams and ponds. Par: 71. Length: 5,212-6,469 yards.
Saddlebrook Course: Though flatter than the Palmer course, this one is also tighter, with tree-lined fairways and water on most of its holes. Par: 70. Length: 5,183-6,603 yards.

Spa & Fitness Center.The 7,000-square-foot Spa in the walking village has 12 treatment rooms offering massages, hydrotherapy treatments, and some beauty services. Campers who can still walk at the end of the day are welcome to use the 3,300-square-foot, state-of-the-art fitness center in Lakeside Village, a 10-minute walk from the Superpool. It has a full line of Cybex equipment plus treadmills, stair steppers, recumbent bicycles, elliptical trainers, and rubber-encased freeweights all in rooms with views of a swimming pool or volley ball pit.
The renowned trainer Pat Etcheberry runs his Etcheberry Sport Performance operation at Saddlebrook, where he works with many of the players who live there as well as with others who come there to train. If you're really serious about setting up a conditioning program Etcheberry and his staff can both provide a fitness assessment and then design a program to help you meet your goals.

And ... The centerpiece of the resort is its half-million-gallon, amoeba-shaped Superpool, said to be the largest in Florida. At 270 feet long, it is vast enough to contain a 25-meter lap pool, water volleyball and water basketball courts, and a diving area. Around it are children's wading pools and two heated whirlpools. There is another swimming pool near the Sports Village & Fitness Center. Otherwise, recreation run to bike trails around the property and bass fishing in the privately stocked lakes.

Children's Programs

The S'Kids Club operates year round providing supervised activities for kids ages 4-12. Cost is $25/day.

Lodging

There are a total of 790 rooms and suites at Saddlebrook, most of them in 50-unit clusters variously arrayed near the main clubhouse and pool, or out along the golf fairways. Each cluster has an ice machine and washer/dryer. The most basic accommodation is a hotel room with two double beds and a private balcony or patio. The alternatives are one- and two-bedroom suites (which anywhere else would be called condos). These have full kitchens (with coffee makers and dishwashers but not microwaves), separate living and dining areas, and one or two bedrooms, each with a full bath. The living areas have televisions and so do the bedrooms. All of this lodging has recently been refurbished with new furniture, drapes, and bedding. High-speed internet access is available throughout the resort (for a fee).

Restaurants

The Cypress Restaurant in the hotel serves Pacific Rim-influenced Continental cuisine, while the more casual Dempsey's Steak House offers up both steaks and fresh seafood and pasta as well as burgers, chicken wings, and pizza.

See Also

Assuming you've chosen Saddlebrook for its Hopman clinics, you also ought to look at the following dedicated camps for comparison's sake:

• Bollettieri Tennis Academy, Florida, the other so-called "boot camp"
• Academia Sanchez-Casal Adult Camp at Naples Tennis Club & Resort, Florida
• John Newcombe Tennis Ranch, Texas
• Total Tennis, New York
• Van der Meer Shipyard Racquet Club, South Carolina

As an alternative, especially during Florida's hot, humid summers, take a look at these programs:

• Nike Amherst Adult Camp, Massachusetts
• New England Tennis Holidays, New Hampshire
• Swarthmore Tennis Camps, Pennsylvania

Travel Essentials

Seasons. The resort and its Hopman tennis programs operate year-round; however, given the grueling nature of these clinics, you should think twice about coming in summer—unless, of course, you want to work out in hot, humid conditions. Principally for that reason, the camps are generally two to three times larger during the fall, winter, and spring than in summer.

Rates.

The room rates quoted below are special discounts for those who also enroll in a Saddlebrook International Tennis Academy (at least one guest must be taking the tennis-instruction series). By booking tennis and lodging together, you get a deluxe guest room, 5 hours/day of intensive tennis, complimentary court time, daily breakfast, and access to the fitness center and spa. One- and two-bedroom suites with full kitchens are also available (call for rates). Mention Tennis Resorts Online when you book and you'll receive an upgrade to a one-bedroom suite (subject to availability) and a complimentary Saddlebrook Amenity Basket. Other packages and room rates are available.

Reservations:

Saddlebrook Resort/Hopman Tennis Program
5700 Saddlebrook Way
Wesley Chapel, FL 33543-4499
813-973-1111
Toll-free: 800-729-8383
Fax: 813-973-2936
Web Link: Saddlebrook Resort

Travel Instructions. By Air: Saddlebrook is 25 miles north of Tampa International Airport. Shuttles and rental cars are available. By Car: Take I-75 to the SR 54 exit and continue east 1 mile. The entrance is on the right.

General Tourist Information. Visit the Tampa Bay Convention & Visitors Association web site or contact them at 400 N. Tampa St., Suite 2800, Tampa, FL 33602. Phone 813-223-2752 or 800-368-2672.

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