Questions for Tomás Prieto Sorensen

TCB: Tomás, you are the Director of Tennis at the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre Costa Mujeres Cancún?
TPS: Yes, we started with this project a few months ago and we officially opened February 18th with Rafa Nadal and Carlos Moya.

TCB: When did you start playing tennis? Did someone teach you?
TPS: I started playing tenins when I was 9 years old in my home town on Mallorca. I was not a professional but I played some atp tournaments.

TCB: Did you play high school / college tennis?
TPS: I have a sports teacher degree and sports science degree in Spain. I never played college in the USA but I have been working in New York for many years before I came back to Mallorca and started in the Rafa Nadal Academy in 2016.

TCB: When did you start teaching tennis? Have you been certified for teaching?
TPS: I started teaching when I was young (helping with the little kids in my club and earning some money). I started teaching professionally when I was 21-22 years old. I'm certified by the Spanish Tennis Federation.

TCB: What did you do before working for the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre?
TPS: Before RNTC in Costa Mujeres I was the Head Coach of the adult program and the U14 boys in the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca. I started in the Rafa Nadal Academy when they opened in 2016. Before that, I worked in New York for many years (Westrock Tennis Academy with Adrian Contreras and John Mcenroe Tennis Academy).

TCB: When was the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre Costa Mujeres Cancún founded?
TPS: The idea of the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre was created by Rafa. He has an academy in Mallorca where players who are looking to become professional or trying to get in a good college in the USA are coming to train and study full-time.

Our new facility is a different format. We are part of a huge resort (Grand Palladium Resort and Spa) and we provide a quality tennis programs (following the Rafa Nadal Academy methodology) for players of all levels and ages during their vacations.

TCB: How many courts do you have and what surface are these?
TPS: We have a total of 8 red clay tennis courts (1 central court, 4 outdoor and 3 covered courts)

TCB: Are there other teaching pros at the facility? What are their names?
TPS: We are a total of 4 coaches (2 coaches from the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca and 2 local coaches trained by the Rafa Nadal Methodology). A lot of people are asking us about Rafa´s commitment in Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre in Costa Mujeres. Rafa Nadal send us from Mallorca to make sure the Rafa Nadal Academy Methodology and training formats are being followed and the new facilities he opens are not losing the Rafa Nadal Academy essence.

TCB: Do you teach adults and children?
TPS: We offer programs for kids (starting at 6 years old) until they become competitive junior players. We also offer programs for adults (singles and doubles programs).

TCB: What programs do you offer?
TPS: Our programs are created by all the experience that Toni Nadal and the team from the Rafa Nadal Academy has through all their tennis experience. We offer a minimum of 3 days of training from Monday to Saturday.

ADULTS PLAYERS (18+)

PREMIUM PROGRAM:
A program for the most demanding. PREMIUM TENNIS consists of private and semiprivate sessions where you will get the most out of our Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy by Movistar coaches. Every day the session will focus on a specific skill so you can improve in every aspect of the game during the week.

TOTAL TENNIS ADULT:
At the TOTAL TENNIS ADULTS Camp you can improve your tennis game and your physical performance while you enjoy a group training session according to your level of play. Learn and compete against other participants from around the world.

TOTAL DOUBLES:
The TOTAL DOUBLES Camp is created for those regular doubles teams who want to step up their level and improve their tactics and strategy. You will experience a combination of drills and real game situations that will help you improve areas such as net coverage, attacking the net, and smart shot selection.

TOTAL DRILLS:
Total Drills is a group activity designed to help the beginner and intermediate player develop their tennis specific skills in a fun and dynamic session. You will work through a series of rallies and exercises that will put your abilities into test and help you develop all the basic skills required for the practice of this sport.

JUNIOR PLAYERS (5-18 years old)

TOTAL TENNIS KIDS: The TOTAL TENNIS KIDS is for all kids between 5 and 7 years of age that are initiating in tennis. They will all be able to improve their tennis specific and general sport habilities, making friends from all over the world as they work according the Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy by Movistar methodology.

TOTAL TENNIS JUNIOR: The TOTAL TENNIS JUNIOR is for junior players between 8 and 18 years old. Build for all levels. The players will have a technical, tactical and mental training through every drills and exercises build by the Rafa Nadal Tennis coaches. Every day the session will focus on a specific skill so you can improve in every aspect of the game during the stay of the player.

TCB: Is Rafa Nadal involved in this club at all? Is he the sole owner?
TPS: I'm glad you ask me this question because a lot of people believe and are asking us if Rafa is involved in the project or only put the name to bring people. Rafa Nadal is totally involved in the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre Costa Mujeres project. He wants to make sure every project he starts follows the methodology and quality of the Rafa Nadal Academy.

For that reason he sent 2 of his senior coaches from Mallorca to start this project in Cancun. The 2 local coaches who are working with us have been trained by the Rafa Nadal Academy Methodology in Mallorca for 1-2 months or in Cancun.

TCB: Does the club have memberships? If yes, how many approximately?
TPS: NO. ANY PLAYER CAN PLAY.

TCB: What are the challenges for you at Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre Costa Mujeres Cancún?
TPS: My big challenge in this new project is to make sure the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre Costa Mujeres is a reference as a provider of tennis vacation. Our facilities are amazing, the resort is awesome and the weather is perfect to play tennis during the entire year. Our programs are very complete and our coaches have a lot of experience, passion and are great people, one of the keys in our academy and Rafa´s team.

TCB: Where do you want to take Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre Costa Mujeres in the coming years? Do you have plans for the future?
TPS: Our first goal, as I told before, is to make sure the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre Costa Mujeres is a reference in America as a provider of tennis vacation. In medium-long term we would like to open the doors to the local tennis players offering quality tennis programs, organizing tournaments…

TCB: What brand/model racquet do you use? What type strings? What tension do you string your racquet at?
TPS: Babolat Pure Drive//Babolat RPM/25 kg

TCB: Does the club endorse a certain racquet brand?
TPS: Our official sponsor is Babolat. Our coaches play with Babolat and we also have Babolat racquets for our clients.

TCB: What would you say if American tennis tourists would be interested in visiting your club? Do you get serious tennis enthusiasts visit for vacation and training?
TPS: Come to the tennis paradise!! Come with your family, team or by yourself and get a quality tennis training while you enjoy your holidays in all the facilities our resort offers (beach, swimming pool, spa, thematic restaurants…). If you want to start playing tennis or if you are a competitive player, we have a program that fits for you.

TCB: Thank you, Tomás Prieto Sorensen.