As Wimbledon fever comes into full swing and the strawberries-and-cream season begins, there’s no better time to dust off your racquet and serve up your next holiday with a tennis twist. From clay courts surrounded by Umbrian olive groves to oceanside matches along Australia’s western shores, these boutique stays combine grand-slam-style with grand design. Here’s our shortlist of net-worthy destinations where the courts are as captivating as the scenery.
1. Reschio Hotel, Umbria – Italy
Wrapped up within a 1,500-hectare private estate in the Umbrian hills, Reschio Hotel is a masterclass in rural elegance, and its sporting offerings are no less refined. Guests can rally on two immaculate clay courts hidden amid ancient olive groves, followed by a wind down in the estate’s Roman-style bathhouse. With private lessons available and a courtside honesty bar for a post-match spritz, the experience is pure dolce vita. Add in free-roaming horses, restored farmhouses, and a millennia-old castle at the centre of it all, and Reschio makes a convincing case for the most stylish match point in Italy.
Reschio’s 10th Inter-House Tennis Tournament runs from 11th to 15th August 2025.
2. Barracuda Hotel & Villas, Itacaré – Brazil
On Brazil’s Bahian coast, Barracuda Hotel & Villas blends beachy ease with contemporary design — and its ocean-view tennis court is a smash hit. Sheltered by palm fronds and steps from the brilliant blue waters of Itacaré, the court is ideal for both early-morning drills and breezy evening matches. Lessons and equipment are available for guests, while wellness experiences like capoeira and surfing add a local rhythm to your stay. After working up a sweat, cool off in your private plunge pool or unwind with caipirinhas under the stars.
3. The Retreat at Elcot Park, Berkshire – UK
A genteel Georgian mansion in the heart of Berkshire countryside, The Retreat at Elcot Park offers a quintessentially English tennis experience. Its all-weather court is set in peaceful, landscaped gardens, a perfect spot for a rally between spa treatments or countryside rambles. With a resident coach on hand, you can finesse your forehand before indulging in local fare at the 1772 brasserie or fusion bites at pan-Asian restaurant, Yu. Just a volley away from the splendours of Highclere Castle and the Kennet Valley, The Retreat blends heritage with health-boosting pursuits — ideal for a pre-Wimbledon warm-up in style.
4. I Borghi dell’Eremo, Umbria – Italy
Tucked into a wild and undiscovered corner of Umbria, I Borghi dell’Eremo is a secluded, soulful estate with a love for slow living — and strong serves. Its rustic private court is surrounded by oak forests and sweeping hills, perfect for a meditative match or family doubles tournament. Stay in centuries-old stone farmhouses reimagined with modern touches, cool down in the bio-pool, or stretch it out in the yoga shala. Play in the pine-scented air and enjoy every volley as it echoes across the verdant valley.
5. The Cellars-Hohenort, Cape Town – South Africa
Set in Cape Town’s vine-clad Constantia Valley, The Cellars-Hohenort serves up aces with its nine-acre manicured gardens, fine dining, and charming tennis court shaded by ancient camphor trees. Whether you’re facing Table Mountain on your morning rally or relaxing post-match in the greenhouse-style spa, this grape-growing gem balances play with pampering. With Cape vineyards, Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, and Atlantic beaches all within reach, it’s a match made in Mother City heaven.
6. Smiths Beach Resort, Yallingup – Australia
On the ruggedly handsome coast of Western Australia, Smiths Beach Resort is a windswept haven of ocean-facing villas and barefoot luxury, and its floodlit tennis court is just one of many active temptations. Perfect your serve between surf sessions and Margaret River vineyard visits, or enjoy a sunset match with the sea breeze at your back. The court is cocooned by natural bushland and the hum of native birds, creating a laid-back, nature-immersed atmosphere for friendly games.
7. The Mansion at Ocean Edge, Cape Cod – USA
A grand summer estate turned stately resort, The Mansion at Ocean Edge in Cape Cod offers nine tennis courts, including Har-Tru clay surfaces, with sweeping Atlantic views. Two full-service tennis centres cater to both casual players and competitive spirits, with clinics, lessons, and even round robins on the schedule. Afterwards, head to the private beach, bike the Cape Cod Rail Trail, or indulge in a bowl of clam chowder on the terrace. This is New England elegance with a sporty streak.
8. Eagles Palace, Halkidiki – Greece
Blending into the backdrop of Mount Athos and the Aegean’s shimmering waters, Eagles Palace offers a blissfully scenic court experience on Greece’s lesser-trodden peninsula. The resort’s hard tennis and padel court is shaded by pines and kept cool by sea breezes, making every rally feel like a Greek summer dream. Guests can book lessons with seasoned instructors, then unwind with a green fig facial at the Elemis spa or sail to nearby Diaporos Island. With private bungalows, beachfront dining, and a strong wellness focus, Eagles Palace serves up serenity and sporting pursuits in equal measure.
Latest stories
A deliberately slow, solo adventure through magical Bhutan
Several goblet-like lamps flicker within the colourful, ornate prayer hall at Gangtey Gonpa, a 17th century monastery on a mist-shrouded ridge overlooking Bhutan’s Phobjikha Valley. Filled with clarified yak butter, the lamps symbolise wisdom dispelling the darkness of ignorance (believed to be the root cause of human suffering in Tibetan
Where to stay in September: 6 boutique hotels to book now
Every seasoned traveller knows September is the month to move. Peak season has passed, but the beauty and warmth still linger — Kyoto’s sun-dappled temples, vineyards primed for Mendoza’s spring bud break, and shorelines still smouldering in Croatia — all revealed through a more authentic, crowd-free lens. It’s shoulder season
The ultimate Istanbul city guide
The call to prayer rising above the Bosphorus, the scent of spices drifting through centuries-old bazaars, the shimmer of mosaics inside Byzantine domes — Istanbul is a city that stirs the senses at every turn. Here, East and West meet not just in geography but in taste, texture, and rhythm,
From burnout to balance: how to incorporate Sophrology into your travels
In a world that never stops scrolling, flying, or striving, Dominique Antiglio is inviting us to pause. The founder of BeSophro and a pioneer of modern Sophrology — a mind-body practice often dubbed “meditation for people who can’t meditate”— Antiglio blends clinical expertise with the elegance of intuition. With over
