The Abama Tenerife Tennis Academy is having a moment in the sun. The recent celebration of our first charity padel tournament welcomed 48 teams, and we will be hosting another round of ATP Challenger tournaments at the beginning of 2024. With a total of 7 professional tennis courts and 4 padel courts, Abama Tennis has all the facilities required to host major events in a space that both professionals and amateurs find spectacular. The face of our Tennis Academy is Joaquín Pérez Martos, whose great passion for tennis has led him to dedicate most of his life to playing, competing, and, above all, teaching.
Our Head Coach’s background is intimately tied to the legendary Manolo Santana. They worked together on the Costa del Sol for more than 15 years, and Pérez himself says he’s been indelibly marked by the influence of this great player who was the first Spaniard to win Wimbledon and a total of four Grand Slams.
“I am proud to have worked with him for so many years. In Spain, he’s probably the most important person in the history of the sport. He was indubitably the best tennis player in Spain until Rafa Nadal.” According to Pérez, without Santana’s inspiration, he wouldn’t have set up his own academy.
Born in Málaga, the head of the Abama Tenerife Tennis Academy had a solid 25-year professional career, most of it spent in Marbella, before making the leap to Abama in 2021. He was drawn by Tenerife's landscapes and the potential of the Abama Tennis Academy project.
'Quino', as he is known to his friends, has set out to raise the level of Abama Tenerife's sport offer even higher than it was and make our facilities into a reference point for the island. We asked him about his career and the future of this important resort asset.
How was the transition from Marbella to Tenerife?
I had my own school on the Costa del Sol when, at the beginning of 2021, it was proposed to me that I come to Abama. It was a great opportunity because the project needed a change of direction, so I decided to take the leap. My goal is to get the Abama Tennis Academy back on track and make it into a benchmark for tennis in Tenerife.
What interested you most in our project?
Abama Resort Tenerife has wonderful facilities for paddle tennis, tennis and golf. In general, I was very attracted to the project. After the pandemic, we practically had to start from scratch, but I think the direction we're going is the right one and it just needs a bit more time to consolidate itself. Abama is investing and providing solutions to the issues that arise along the way, and that is the best way to move forwards.
What stands out about the Abama Tenerife Tennis Academy?
We have professional courts that have hosted Tenerife ATP Challengers and other tennis events, and we’re delighted with them because it means we can host exciting professional tournaments. In addition, we have stunning views of the island of La Gomera and the ocean in front of us. For me, the location, the facilities, and the climate of Tenerife sell themselves.
Does the Abama Tenerife Tennis Academy only serve Abama owners and guests, or is it open to anyone who would like to book a court?
The Academy works with the hotels. That is, this isn’t a Tenerife tennis club or a school; we offer private lessons to individuals or groups at arranged times. But we also have some arrangements with tour operators who bring us groups of players, and we can offer special intensive tennis training days, or weeks that mix tennis with padel, or even packages that combine tennis, padel and golf lessons. For these groups, we create a plan that combines sport in the mornings with afternoon excursions so they can get to know Tenerife and the neighboring islands. We have a lot of options that fulfill almost every wish our clients have.
Are the lessons only for experienced players, or can a beginner also benefit?
We have everything: beginners, those who play with some frequency, and some professional players. What we try to do is contact the client, connect with them, and find out what they need. There are players who may not be professionals but who take their game extremely seriously, and we coach these people with the same respect and attention we would afford a professional. Other people just want to do a bit of exercise and have a good time. The key is that the instructor have enough experience to understand the client’s expectations. In general, our team has a lot of experience. One of the trainers, for example, came with me from Marbella, where we had worked together for more than 10 years. The quality of the teaching staff and the desire to keep making improvements are very important to me.
Can a family with children sign them up for tennis lessons?
Of course. We work with children as young as 4 years old, but we have even trained a 3-year-old who was big for his age and quite coordinated. In general, we offer lessons for people of all ages. I recently had a 79-year-old client; I played with him three days in a row and he was extremely good.
How do you book time at the Abama Tennis Academy?
We adapt to the client's schedule. We are not here all day, but we are available from 8 A.M. to 8 P.M. and we work Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. For people who are interested in training with us, I recommend they book in advance. If you wait until you're here and the occupation is high, the courts will probably already be fully booked. It is best to book as soon as you book the days you will be staying at Abama Resort Tenerife.
Do you need to pack a racquet?
No, not at all. We have all the equipment: different types and sizes of racquets, machines that help us with the training, balls, etc. The only things you should pack are your sport clothes, sunscreen and sneakers.
Where would you like to see the Abama Tenerife Tennis Academy in a few years?
My hope is that shortly we will go from 3 to 5 trainers; that will be a definitive sign of our growth. And with more people interested, we can organize more activities. I would like to organize more amateur-level tournaments for our guests, who, because they come from different countries, would then get to enjoy international competitions. At the professional level, I look forward to us continuing to strengthen our position as a venue for ATP tournaments. In 2022, we hosted players ranked between 120th and 200th in the world who have already broken into the Top 100 and are really making a name for themselves. These tournaments are extremely interesting because very good players come. It’s exciting to watch them and get more visibility for the Academy.
Warm and friendly, and with great enthusiasm for his work, Pérez Martos's passion for tennis is infectious and he's sure that the Abama Tenerife Tennis Academy will shortly be one of the standout programs in southern Europe. If you're looking for the best Tenerife tennis, at Abama you'll find world-class courts in the midst of exclusive accommodation facilities, exquisite restaurants, and wonderful landscapes, perfect for a weekend getaway. Just remember to book in advance!
