A very warm welcome to the June 2008 edition of the Affordable Tennis Holidays Newsletter.

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In This Months Edition

The Affordable Tennis Holiday Website Videos

We've just added a series of videos to the website which will hopefully give people a real flavour of what our tennis holidays are all about. We were very fortunate to be able to call on the expertise of John Paroussi. John who works for the BBC was one of our tennis holiday guests last September and he very kindly came back out to film and produce the videos. We'd just like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to John and his trusty sidekick Bob for all their hard work.

We'd also like to say a big thank you to our guests from the Bellingham tennis club in Wigan and the Lostock tennis club in Bolton, who were brave enough to take part in the filming during their stay. Thanks ladies, you were all stars and don't worry Marian, we're saving the swimming video for a Christmas special!

Next Stop Hollywood!

Watch The Tennis Holiday Video Tour

The Art of Lawn Tennis

By William Tatem Tilden

As a thank you for visiting the website we have created an electronic version of this classic tennis book first published in 1920, that anybody can get hold of for free. The book is in the public domain so please feel free to download, display, print, and pass it on.

I absolutely love this book because it engages you on so many levels. At times you have to remind yourself that it was written 88 years ago, for instance, there are sections on the psychology of match play and the psychology of singles and doubles; and 61 years before John McEnroe's infamous "You cannot be serious!" outburst William Tatem Tilden notes:

The crowd objects, and justly so, to a display of real temper on the court. A player who loses his head must expect a poor reception from the gallery. Questioned decisions by a player only put him in a bad light with the crowd and cannot alter the point. You may know the call was wrong, but grin at it, and the crowd will join you.

For all that this great book was clearly ahead of its day, There is the odd reminder that it was written in more innocent times.

Two delightful elderly ladies were witnessing Charles S. Garland and myself struggle against Mavrogordato, and Riseley at the Edgbaston tournament in England in 1920. One turned to the other and said: "Those are the Americans!" "Oh," said the second lady resignedly, "I thought so. The tall one [meaning me] looks rather queer.

As well as providing lots of technical information and advice that it still just as relevant today, the book is full of little gems. For instance, did you know that back in the 1920's a shot that came off the frame of the racquet was known the world over as "the mahogany volley."

Read/Download The Art of Lawn Tennis Here

Specialised Tennis Holidays

We are currently in the process of designing a series of specialised tennis holidays that will run at specific times during the year. These special tennis breaks will include: