Tennis Paul Valèry: Playing in the fast lane

Christmas is coming and after a lazy Sunday afternoon on the mulled wine and mince pies I decided the best way to start the week was to brave the cold and try out another new court. Once the kids break up there will be no chance of a game for a couple of weeks so I decided to make the most of their last week at school.

With Paris shivering in the rain and wind it had to be inside and as luck would have it there was a court available at Tennis Paul Valèry in the 12th arrondissement.

Porte Dorée is home to the city's aquarium and not far from the zoo across the Péripherique in Vincennes. Even in the drizzle and mist it looked smarter than other fringes of the city. Had the weather been finer we could have cycled, but as it was we took the more circuitous Metro to keep dry. The Centre Sportif Paul Valèry is a super-modern facility parked right up against the Péripherique and just over the road from the Ecole Professionnelle de Boucherie - a huge establishment on the Boulvard Soult. This where French butchers come to train and you could practically hear the knives being sharpened. Inside the immaculately-tiled sports centre interior there was a large indoor sports hall. Outside was another state-of-the-art athletics track, a couple of uninviting-looking outdoor tennis courts and at the far end of the complex three tennis 'bubbles'. Wonder of wonders you could even pay by debit card!!

The Paul Valèry courts are properly inside - with a half-timbered, shed-like lower half and a tent-like structure on top. There was also a window giving a view directly on to the motorway traffic of the Péripherique and the consequent accompanying roar. The three courts are laid out side by side and all were full when we played. On the far court a couple of wheelchair tennis players were warming up with some impressive shots. My own game was less impressive - knocked off its stride as usual by a court surface made up of blocks of concrete and the inevitable cracks which can send a ball flying off at an awkward angle. But there is nothing to beat a run round the tennis court to cheer up a dreary morning - especially with the prospect of rewarding ourselves with more mince pies back home!

Tennis Paul Valèry

15 rue de la Nouvelle Calédonie

75012 Paris

Tennis Candie (Again!): Any court in a storm

A tennis emergency! We needed to book a nearby court quickly to squeeze in a quick game during a break in the weather. It had been pouring all week, but the skies cleared and we decided to make a dash for it (reminiscent of many hours spent in tennis pavillions over the years hopefully casting an eye up at the clouds waiting for the weather to brighten up). Unfortunately at such short notice we had to return to Tennis Candie in the 11th arrondissement - but any court in a storm - and we at least managed to book Court 2 so we were not, strictly speaking, repeating ourselves. 

Our Metro line chose that moment to stop running,  so we dashed there on foot as a warm-up. We also learned a new lesson - always have the right money to hand to pay for the court or take a cheque book! As it was I had to send my husband out to get a bottle of water and some change to pay the attendant. This gave me chance to have a good chat with him and learn all about his year in South London and his struggles understanding the local accent. He sent us on to the court with a cheery “See you laters, innit” - and we went up the stairs on to court two. 

Given a choice I would say this is the better of the two courts - lighter, more open, but the same immaculate astro-turf type surface. I love the fact that the two courts are entirely separate so you don’t need to worry about anyone else’s balls coming on to your court and there is no possibility of losing your balls to anyone else. 

In spite of the weather, the surface had dried out well and although our balls got slightly damp I didn’t worry about slipping. I won 6-4 then we took a short stroll to the near by Marché Aligre for a lovely lunch.

Tennis Candie

11 rue Candie

75011 Paris

Tennis Docteurs Déjerine: In need of a warm-up

In the dark, cold days of December I don't want to go outside at all if I can help it, but I decide that a run round the tennis court would be just the thing to get the blood pumping and so I book another covered court.
Unfortunately Docteurs Déjerine in the 20th arrondissement is not really a proper indoor court - just an outdoor one with a roof. My husband moans like mad, but I have come prepared with gloves -  Charlotte and I have played in the snow before in London where playing inside was not an option. Our motto: there is no such thing as bad weather - only inadequate tennis kit! In my case the problem is inadequate contact lenses. As we pop up from the Metro into the less-than-lovely surroundings of Porte de Montreuil I find I can only see out of one eye. Fortunately in Paris one is never too far from a pharmacy and so I nip over the road for some extortionately-priced contact lens solution to fix the problem.
Vision restored, we quickly find the court, part of another large sporting complex complete with football pitches this time. The attendant appears from a changing room he has been cleaning in full protective clothing - including a face mask - to take our money. At least we know the showers will be clean, though I think it is too cold to get undressed - we will wait until we get home.
Docteurs Déjerine has two courts - closer to the Péripherique than we have ever been before, I can watch the traffic crawling off the slip road as I prepare to receive serve. On the adjoining court are two old Frenchmen - one of them dressed as if he is off for a game of golf in sunnier climes in bright trousers and a checked shirt. They bid us a cheery "Bonjour" as we arrive while my husband, dressed in tracksuit and body warmer, grumpily warms up. We are on the "old motorway" surface again - constructed from blocks of concrete, chequered with cracks. I rather enjoy myself - in fact I prefer to play outdoors, so outdoors with a roof seems the perfect solution in winter. And, thanks to my gloves, I return to winning form.

Tennis Docteurs Déjerine
32-36 rue des Docteurs Déjerine
75020 Paris