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| Holiday oasis: Palm-fringed surroundings put Paris courts in the shade |
We have decamped south for our summer holidays to St Aygulf near Fréjus - escaping record-breaking temperatures back in Paris - and are staying in a 'résidence' with its own tennis court and pool. The idea is to play every day, weather permitting - which in this case means being able to book a court early morning or after six when the weather is slightly cooler than daytime temperatures which have soared up to 36 Celsius. There's a simple booking system which allows you to reserve your court 48 hours ahead by locking your marker into a board by the door at your preferred hour.
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| The key to reservations: the court-side booking system |
It's a lovely tree-shaded court in the classic French concrete block style which we have become so accustomed to back home - slightly worn, but with an excellent net and also surrounding netting to keep balls in play. It's such a change to look up and see clear blue sky and palm trees and also to watch tiny lizards skitter away as you reach to collect a ball from the edge of the court. And while in Paris we might have to fight against the noise of the Périphérique traffic to call out the score, in the south the problem is more one of the deafening chatter of cigalles who chirp happily around us throughout our games - or even worse break into song in the middle of a crucial point like a heckler in the crowd at Wimbledon.
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Evening shadows: the coolest time for a warm up
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There have been other distractions too - a break-in at an overlooking apartment saw the arrival of the police one evening and then scenes of crime teams dusting for fingerprints the following morning.
It is a short walk from our apartment to the court and we also have the option of a post-match dip in the neighbouring pool or a short stroll to the beach for a swim in the Med. All in all perfect tennis conditions - and made all the more perfect when followed by my favourite summer aperitif back home on the balcony.
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| Post-match tipples |
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