Grand Slam Team

Where you go

1. Wimbledon, London

   June 26 – June 29

   The historic 150th anniversary of Wimbledon — and the very first day when every court on the grounds is in action. We wander the grounds and see a number of top matches; in past summers, we have had top players give us autographs or take photos at the practice courts or after matches. We spend Saturday and most of Sunday in the Westminster area — the Parliament buildings, Westminster Abbey and 10 Downing Street — and also visit the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Leicester and Piccadilly Squares and Buckingham Palace. Our first practice of the trip is at Bishop's Park Tennis Club near our hotel, to prepare for our first tournaments.

2. Prague, Czech Republic

   June 29 – July 4

   Our tournaments begin in Prague with a three-day under-18 singles and doubles; depending on the Czech schedule, we may also have a second junior tournament. Last summer, we played more matches in Prague than in any other location. Our housing is either a comfortable 3.5 to 4 star hotel or apartment suites, a short ride or walk from our practice courts. Prague is one of the most popular European destinations — a city of red rooftops and golden spires, scenic hills and enduring landmarks, including Prague Castle, the Old Town Square and clock, the medieval Charles Bridge and the Old Jewish Quarter, with Europe's oldest synagogue and cemetery.

3. Barcelona, Spain

   July 4 – July 11

   We play a junior tournament in a suburb of Barcelona, with under-14, 16 and 18 singles depending on your year of birth, and we also enter another challenging tournament with men's or ladies' singles. Spain, of course, is one of the top tennis countries in the world, and you will have the opportunity to practice your Spanish throughout the week. We house at a 3-star hotel in the resort town of Castelldefels, 20 minutes south of Barcelona, within walking distance of the Canal Olimpic water sports center built for the 1992 Olympics. Later in the week we visit Barcelona: a professional guided tour of Gaudí's La Sagrada Familia, the famous Ramblas, and the Old City with its Gothic cathedral. Barcelona is a world-class city with all its history, delicious food and amazing sights — always a favorite of our players.

4. Utrecht, Holland

   July 11 – July 19

   This junior tournament is in a picturesque small town near Utrecht, and has been voted the best stop on our trip for many years now. The friendly Dutch welcome us warmly, with a tournament that also offers some socializing throughout the week. Plenty of match play with under-17 singles and either doubles or mixed doubles — in past summers a round-robin format, assuring, win or lose, lots of matches. Later in the week, players have the opportunity to visit Amsterdam to see the Anne Frank House, the Rijksmuseum, City Hall and the walking street.

Short-trip players fly home from Barcelona on Sunday July 11. The full team flies home from Amsterdam on Monday July 19.