Tennis delight: Insights from Eddie Redmayne, Anna Wintour, and Laura Bailey on the tactile joys of engaging in a game of tennis
Tennis Love Affair: A Grassroots Player's Take on Courtship: For the Love of Tennis
I was just a kid, with my shabby garden tennis court, the one that we'd rumble with our rusty lawn roller. But the raw, earthy smell of freshly cut grass and the thrill of chasing that fuzzy ball stuck with me, turning me into a grown-ass clay-court player.
Now, Laura Bailey and Mark Arrigo, a duo of model, photographer, and writer, along with filmmaker, photographer, and author, have whipped up a stunning ode to the sport, Courtship: For the Love of Tennis. Sure, their courts might overshadow the one I picked up my tennis skills on, but they all have a unique charm, each brimming with its own individual allure.
"Wherever I go, I always find a game," Bailey confesses, and it turns out Jamaica is her next destination, with Cliveden, Buckinghamshire, still on her bucket list.
This book wasn’t a simple walk in the park; no, it was a quest. Bailey tells us they traveled far and wide, scaled trees, scrambled across rooftops, and dared to wade into the sea, all in pursuit of the rare, the beautiful. As an author, tennis has become her obsession, consuming her work week.
In her book, Bailey reveals her top picks for Britain’s finest courts. Gleneagles Hotel in Scotland, with its sprawling green landscape, snuggles up against the Perthshire Highlands. Oakley Court in Berkshire promises a charming kitchen garden nestled along the Thames as its welcoming embrace. Babington House in Somerset has a grass court that plays hide-and-seek with trees and fields, offering a secluded atmosphere.
If you're hunting for romance, look no further than Ballymaloe House in Ireland. With tangles of rose and ivy that mark its boundaries, it's a charming love letter to tennis destinations.
Let's not forget about the prestigious London clubs like Hurlingham or Queen's, where players proudly don their whites and engage in high-stakes battles on the pristine lawns. Or the delight of indulging in strawberries and cream at the Wimbledon final, not just for the sweet treat but for the thrilling matches that follow.
The sights, the sounds, and the signals that tennis sends right to your core are unlike any other sport. For instance, the satisfying crunch of your shoes on the court, the unmistakable "cluck" and elongated hiss when opening a new tube of balls by actor Eddie Redmayne- these little pleasures can send shivers down your spine. The allure of the new tennis balls is so captivating that even soap companies hop on the trend and pretend to bottle their unique aroma.
The rubbery scent of fresh tennis balls isn't just popular; it's a cult following. It's no wonder players get caught on camera pressing them to their noses, inhaling their intoxicating scent.
Tennis's allure can be traced back to our most cherished novels. For example, E. M. Forster's A Room With a View brilliantly captures the delight of a messy game of garden tennis, with characters playing amid the rolling hills of the South Downs. In Jilly Cooper's Rivals, the gravel path that leads to the court is teeming with red admirals and a sight for sore eyes. The novel takes a frisky turn when the main characters partake in a playful game of nude tennis, injecting some fun and frivolity that readers can't help but devour.
For those who prefer less exhibitionistic play, it's all about the look, according to film director, artist, and photographer Sam Taylor-Johnson. "It's as much about the look as the game," she says. "In every other arena of my life, my socks don't go on first. For tennis, they do... They've got to be just right - the right length, the right thickness, the right color."
Bailey embraces an unconventional yet charming approach to tennis apparel, favoring classic whites, such as a L'Etoile Sport dress, and "a vintage stripey knit with Nike shorts." Beauty products and luck charms are also a part of her pre-game routine.
Some courts invite laxer attire, like the windswept Bunabhainneadar on the Isle of Harris. The idyllic, remote tennis court, nestled amidst mountains and a loch, seems to have appeared out of nowhere. The only distraction being the occasional visit from eagles and other wildlife, who aren't as focused on the game as you might hope.
For those seeking the buzz of the crowd, tennis serves up an unparalleled experience, especially during summer months. "The tennis court is the heart of our summer," Dame Anna Wintour says. "It's the place where everyone gathers." For Peter Gabriel, spending quality time with family on the generations-old family court brings the most happiness.
Few games evoke the essence of summer like tennis does, and there's no denying the allure of a well-manicured tennis court bathed in sunlight. As the poet, Philip Levine puts it, "We could hear the ocean, not far off, and boats firing up their engines, and the shouts of couples in white on the tennis courts. I thought, Yes, this is the beginning of another summer, and it will go on until the sun tires of us."
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- The book's authors, Laura Bailey and Mark Arrigo, share a common love for tennis, respecting its charm and allure, whether on shabby suburban courts or the prestigious lawns of London clubs.
- In her book, Bailey recommends tennis destinations that blend fashion-and-beauty and lifestyle, from the scenic Gleneagles Hotel in Scotland to the romantic Ballymaloe House in Ireland, where tennis courts are as much a part of the scenic aesthetic as the gardens and architecture.
