Given every tennis academy in the region claims to be different from the other, although it is difficult to see how, Tennis 360 indeed does have a reason for claiming to be so for it is the only tennis academy to be operating inside the Dubai Sports World.
Having begun its operations in September 2010 at the Ritz-Carlton JBR on a temporary lease before moving to the American School of Dubai in February 2011, Tennis 360 has really grown over the years adding two more academies at Meydan and Shangri-La hotel to its roster. It has been operating at Dubai Sports World since the start and Gwen Sproule, the Business Development Director spoke to XPRESS about the aim of the set-up at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
“We have installed one court at DSW and while it is not ideal for advance levels, it is perfect for kids and beginners and that is the group we target here,” she said.
According to Gwen, Tennis 360 operates through the principles of developing fundamental movement skills, establishing functional movement skills, developing sports specific skills, teaching tennis specific skills, mental conditioning, good nutrition, and creating a love for the game, with the philosophy being to create first the athlete, then the player.
“Our venture at DSW is the perfect breeding ground for starters. We have new students enrolling here and our coaches take turns in teaching them the fundamental skills,” she said.
One of the goals of the academy is to develop Emirati youngsters and Gwen puts its success into perspective. “We have about 600 students in total out of which 20 are Emiratis. What it means is that while we are probably less successful than we would like to be, we have seen increasing interest among the Emiratis. And at DSW we increase the chances of their participation by giving them an indoor option,” she said.
