Tennis Atlantique: Feeling hot, hot, hot!

Paris is sizzling. It is the hottest week of the year with temperatures set to soar to 39C - in fact my greatest find has not been a tennis court, but the open air swimming pool at the Porte de Vincennes. But can it ever really be too hot for tennis? Parisians certainly don't think so! The courts are as booked up as ever and I still can't get a court in the Luxembourg Gardens. Anyway, isn't this the weather I dreamed about when toughing it out on freezing mornings in winter or even on the drearier days of the average British summer? So onwards and upwards - in fact upwards quite literally since I'd booked a court on top of Montparnasse station in the Jardin Atlantique. 

I'd been to the Jardin Atlantique years ago when my children were tiny and I remember just how unexpected it was to find this garden on the roof surrounded on all sides by office blocks and flats with the Montparnasse Tower, the tallest building in Paris, looming over everything. The garden is a green lung of sorts in the surrounding concrete and tarmac and has five tennis courts running down one side. Russian vine tumbling over the courtside netting offered some welcome shade to keep our water cool and retreat from the full glare of the sun between games, but the view from the court is essentially one of office blocks and of course the tower. And although you can't actually see the station it certainly makes its presence felt - we could hear the TGVs rumbling underfoot as we played and the SNCF chimes that precede each station announcement. Sunglasses and visors at the ready, it actually felt cooler on court than off although I'm sure the heat made the balls more bouncy as so many returns bounced away over my head.

It was an excellent court, but perhaps a bit too far from home to become a favourite and my children would definitely recommend the creperies in the nearby Rue du Montparnasse.

Tennis Atlantique
25 alle du Capitaine Dronne
75015
Paris

Docteurs Déjerine: Putting other courts in the shade!

It was the first day of the school holidays and I decided to start as I mean to go on - with a game of tennis. I wasn't so organised that I'd booked anything ahead which was how we ended up back at Docteur Déjerine in the 20th arrondissement which is technically a covered court. I say technically because it has open sides and when we played here for the first time in December we nearly froze. No need for covers this time, Paris was basking in a balmy 24 degrees and I was feeling slightly resentful of paying a €17 an hour - no wonder it was the only court left. In fact it turned out to a blessing as the roof shaded us from the strong sunshine while the open sides let in a cooling breeze and no need for sunglasses or visor. These were, dare I say it, perfect conditions. It might have been my imagination, but I think we all played better for it - though it could be an expensive summer if we get too hooked.
Finally I just need to take a moment to share two of my favourite birthday cards this year.

Thank you Gilli - you have perfectly captured my formal tennis attire (and I believe the ladies are even enjoying a Lapsang Souchong).

And thanks to Jonty for so perfectly anticipating my new Sweaty Betty outfit!

Tennis Docteurs Déjerine

32 -36 rue de Docteurs Déjerine

75020 Paris

Metro: Porte de Montreuil

Tennis Reims - Asnières: Lawn tennis (I wish!)

I'm getting the hang of this tennis court booking lark! Earlier in the week it looked as if every court in Paris was booked up during the weekend, but a last minute attempt to find somewhere for a family four on Sunday revealed a court in the 17th arrondissement had suddenly come free (probably someone had decided to stay home and watch the Roland Garros final). I booked the slot at Tennis Reims-Asnières and then made a quick phone call to check it wasn't closed due to a strike. A good lesson in never giving up hope of finding a court - and it was a perfect day for tennis! We took the Metro to Porte de Champerret -  the 16-stop journey was much quicker than anticipated - and arrived in a part of Paris I've never visited before. The courts, like so many others, are on the edge of the city, but this part of Paris felt much leafier, and airier than many of its fringes and the sports centre here did not disappoint. There are nine courts in total and play was in full swing when we arrived, putting me in mind of Sunday afternoon at the tennis clubs of my youth. The green, astroturf surface could almost fool you into thinking you were playing on grass and it was certainly a very welcome sight on a warm afternoon.

 
I'd like to say our game rose to the occasion, but a late night celebrating my birthday the night before meant we were all rather tired and no-one was playing at their best. Still there is nothing like a game of doubles to blow away the cobwebs. The astroturf is not so bouncy as a hard court, but perfect for a gentle game of doubles when you don't have so much court to cover. The birds sang, the sun shone and we were home to see Wawrinka win the final.
9 out of 10 - we'll be back!
Tennis Reims-Asnières
34 Boulevard de Reims
75017 Paris

Léo Lagrange: New balls (and tennis gear) please!

It's my birthday today - and a rather significant one at that! My husband (and tennis partner) bought me new balls, but much more excitingly my lovely London girlfriends bought me a fabulous new tennis outfit from Sweaty Betty. I had hoped we might bag some ground passes for Roland Garros today, but it was not to be. Instead I made a last-minute booking at this tried and tested court at Port de Charenton in the 12th arrondissement. I'd had my eye on a flat overlooking these courts, but the For Sale sign was gone today so we've probably missed the boat there (to my husband's relief - he doesn't think proximity to a great tennis court is a good enough reason to buy a flat). 

In honour of my fabulous birthday present I'm breaking with tradition to appear in a photo. The skirt - or 'skorts' to be more accurate - even had a handy ball pocket sewn into them for storing an extra ball when serving. My game was definitely improved by my new attire and perhaps even more so by the new balls. Imagine what a difference it would make to my game if I could have new balls (and perhaps even a new outfit!) every seven games like the pros - a much more even bounce, with no ball bouncier than another and none too flat. Of course typically, as we had a full set of new balls, our court was inadequately fenced with a gap between us and the next court. I did have a moment where I thought we'd lost a ball as we could only find seven - the other was in fact in my new Sweaty Betty pocket!

On our previous trip to Léo Lagrange we had played on Court 6, a green, astroturf carpet with a liberal sprinkling of sand. This time we were on concrete, but a smart, well-maintained court none the less, notwithstanding the gap between us and our neighbours. It is definitely one of my favourites - on the edge of the Bois de Vincennes with lots of trees, flowers and lawns. A perfect spot on a perfect summer day.

Fabulous birthday - huge thanks to Lou, Simone, Corinne, Hélène, Gilli, Lisa and Anne.

Louis Lumière: court maintenance French-style

I was going to let today's game pass without comment since it isn't the first time I've played at Louis Lumière in the 20th arrondissement, but an honourable mention must go to this extraordinary attempt at keeping the net at the correct height. A previous player - no doubt infuriated by the sagging net - had fashioned a prop from a forked branch foraged from the surrounding bushes. And just to be on the safe side they had also jammed a stick in the winding mechanism to hold it taut - an arrangement which worked surprisingly well.

Fortunately we weren't actually booked on to this court (number 3 - in case you want to avoid it!), but   had moved over from the much more satisfactory Court 1 when our time there was up. Courts 1 and 2 are concrete and ours had been scrupulously cleaned since our previous game in November last year when it was rather mossy. Court 3 is surfaced with a sand-covered carpet with a few dips and bumps to catch you unawares. Definitely one to avoid in future, though full marks to the man on reception who took pity on us when we mistakenly arrived at 5pm for a 4pm booking and let us play anyway when the people who had booked were either late or failed to show. A good reminder to be on time for  bookings though otherwise you really will lose the court.

Tennis Léo Lagrange: Bloomin' marvellous!

I was itching to try out the tennis courts at Léo Lagrange near the Porte de Charenton in the 12th arrondissement after visiting a flat just opposite. It wasn't exactly a court-side seat, but you could certainly see the stadium and it would be a two-minute walk at most. My husband wasn't keen on the area, but with the Bois de Vincennes on the doorstep and great sporting facilities a stone's throw away I felt he was writing it off too quickly. The Centre Sportif Léo Lagrange has just about everything you could ask for in a sports centre - football pitches, basketball and handball courts and an athletics track - and most importantly six tennis courts and also a practice wall. It is also the first place we have played that feels less like a huge municipal facility and more like an English tennis club with lots of lawns and flowerbeds to soften the hard lines with the woods of the Bois de Vincennes as a backdrop. A particularly pretty planting scheme along one side of the court  reminded me I was missing the Chelsea Flower Show and it was Chelsea weather too - sunny, but rather blowy with the constant threat of a shower.

We had booked one of the five concrete courts, but the man on reception let us switch our booking to court number 6 - a green astroturf carpet with a liberal sprinkling of sand. We'd passed it on the way in and I wanted to try it as it is the closest thing I'll get to grass in Paris unless I can persuade someone to let me play on the court at the British Embassy. It took a bit of getting used to - the bounce wasn't great, but it made for an interesting game, forcing me to get to the net and volley with surprising success. 

9 out of 10 for this court and with six to choose from you are relatively sure of a booking - though I'm not sure it will be enough to persuade my husband to buy the flat opposite!

Tennis Léo Lagrange

68 Boulevard Poniatowski

75012 Paris

Tennis Jandelle: Birdsong in Belleville

 Another weekend in May, another Bank Holiday in Paris - Ascension Day this time (on Thursday in fact, but extended over Friday to give a long weekend). I'd booked a court in the 19th arrondissement  - combining a game of tennis with checking out a different area in our hunt for a new flat. The closest Metro to Tennis Jandelle was at Belleville - Paris's Chinatown. Paris was quiet for the bank holiday, but it was business as usual in bustling Belleville.

It was busy, noisy and dirty with traffic and roadworks and crowds of people blocking the pavements - you could hardly walk down the road in the Rue du Faubourg du Temple and it wasn't much quieter up the hill on the Rue de Belleville. The restaurants were doing roaring trade, there were bins blocking the pavements - I couldn't imagine where they would squeeze a tennis court  into this hubbub so I couldn't have been more surprised to see the quiet cul-de-sac Cité Jandelle with its unmade road and overhanging gardens.

Tennis Jandelle was a haven of peace and tranquility - sitting quietly among apartment blocks with birds singing in the trees and neighbours watering plants on their balconies. This is the warmest and friendliest welcome we have ever had. The man on the desk suggested we play first and pay afterwards in case rain stopped play (it didn't). There is only one court, but it had an excellent surface and was well-fenced - the net needs tethering in the middle, but this is a small gripe. My son and I won as usual - in spite of my husband's attempts to wind him with a fierce volley in the ribs.
8 out of 10.

Tennis Jandelle
15-17 Cité Jandelle
75019 Paris