Tennis Academy Amsterdam Launched

Written by: Staff on 19th July 2011

Tennis Academy Amsterdam Launched |

Today, by hitting a tennis ball at its logo Sports Alderman Eric van der Burg of the municipality of Amsterdam opened Tennis Academy Amsterdam. With Tennis Academy Amsterdam, an initiative by top tennis players and coaches John van Lottum, Sven Groeneveld, Roland Laurense and Arjan Pondman, the Netherlands are a world-class tennis school richer. “Tennis Academy Amsterdam perfectly fits within the Olympic ambitions of Amsterdam,” says a proud Alderman Eric van der Burg.

Top initiative

Six years ago, tennis coach Roland Laurense started a competitive tennis academy in Amsterdam. At the same time Cor Kwast (co-owner of Tennis Center Amsterdam) and top coach Sven Groeneveld together with former top100 player John van Lottum had a similar idea to set up an international tennis school. As of July 16, 2011, all join Tennis Academy Amsterdam. “We are creating a unique national and international tennis school for top players,” explains Roland Laurense. “The combined strengths and long experience of Groeneveld and Van Lottum together with the Laurense Academy make Tennis Academy Amsterdam a unique and inspiring international tennis school for top tennis players and young emerging talents. Talents pull themselves up to the international top that will regularly train at the Academy. “Tennis Academy Amsterdam wants to compete with the best tennis academies in the world by offering both part time and full time programs to national and international talents, who want to develop professionally. “The Academy provides professional sports Amsterdam city worldwide appeal and potential,” adds John van Lottum. “The city of Amsterdam and Topsport Amsterdam have embraced Tennis Academy Amsterdam and the Sports Science Unit at the Free University of Amsterdam provides the necessary support facilities. In addition, we are also supported by international brands like adidas and Prince.”

Olympic ambitions

Amsterdam was chosen as the venue for the international image and direct access to Schiphol. The city wants to present itself as a true tennis city. To support that, the initiators decided to name it Tennis Academy Amsterdam. “The city of Amsterdam is very fond of Tennis Academy Amsterdam,” says Alderman Eric van der Burg. “It fits perfectly within the Olympic and sporting ambitions of Amsterdam. Tennis Academy Amsterdam would be the beginning of ‘Tennis Country Netherlands’ and a tradition that will grow into major international proportions.”

Renovation location Kadoelen

Tennis Academy Amsterdam boasts two spacious locations in Amsterdam: Amsterdam Tennispark Buitenveldert Kadoelen and Tennis Centre, together accounting for 14 hard indoor courts and 34 outdoor courts. “We have great facilities and a product that can truly add value for our players,” says Sven Groeneveld. “And because we don`t have to build up from scratch, players can enrol the Academy immediately.” Both locations also have extensive fitness facilities and physiotherapy support, including an intensified cooperation with the Sports Science Unit at the Free University of Amsterdam. By the existing infrastructure of the Tennis Academy at Laurense Tennispark Buitenveldert, with about 70 talents and 10 coaches, new players are able to follow a good program, either in a group or privately. The other location, Tennis Centre Amsterdam Kadoelen of co-owners Groeneveld and Van Lottum, will start immediately as well with the training, but will be simultaneously undergo a serious renovation, both inside and outside. Artificial turf will become gravel. There will also be built new catering facilities, and a player’s area to study, rest, eat and relax.

Tennis Academy Amsterdam is supported by several partners such as adidas, Prince, Topsport Amsterdam, Tennisdirect, Tennisjournaal, Free University of Amsterdam, Tennispark Buitenveldert and Tennis Centrum Amsterdam.

The initiators

Roland Laurense is one of the most respected tennis coaches in the Netherlands. He has years of experience in coaching and training of talented players on the ATP, WTA and ITF level, including many national youth champions. He began his career at the CIOS (KNLTB A + B) in Sittard, specializing in tennis. Already during his apprenticeship he trained famous Dutch players like Martin Verkerk (ATP 14), Stephanie Rottier (WTA 93) and Miriam Oremans (WTA 38) at the Amstel Park Tennis School. In 2006, together with Arjan Pondman he started the Laurense Tennis Academy, which is now fully immersed in Tennis Academy Amsterdam.

Sven Groeneveld, head coach / advisor to the adidas Player Development Program and private coach of Esther Vergeer, will continue his current work on the professional tour. In addition, Tennis Academy Amsterdam will become the start of his vision, methods and new international developments to transfer to other players and coaches. Besides his fifteen years of experience as a private coach on the Tour, Groeneveld worked in the past as coach of the Swiss Tennis Association and was responsible for the training of Roger Federer. Within the adidas Player Development Program Groeneveld works as a scout of young talent and he guides them within their training. He does this in addition to his work for players such as Fernando Verdasco, Ana Ivanovic, Andy Murray and Caroline Wozniacki.

John van Lottum, a former top 100 tennis player, defended his country in the Davis Cup and reached the last 16 of Wimbledon 1998. In the past he was a commentator for Eurosport tennis, but since this year he has been a tennis analyst for Dutch broadcaster NOS Studio Sport. In 2008, together with former top 100 player Raemon Sluiter he founded a company in tennis-related activities. As a coach, Van Lottum worked closely together with Thiemo de Bakker. At Tennis Academy Amsterdam, he takes on the role of head coach to transfer his experience as a tennis player to both youth and professional players.

For several years now Arjan Pondman functions as full-time head coach. Associated with the Laurense Tennis Academy, which he and Roland Laurense started up together, he watched it to become a top tennis academy. As a tennis player, he was very successful especially at a national level, with a 27th highest ranking position. As a level 1 player in singles and doubles, Pondman played at national tournaments and league. Next to his fulltime job as head tennis coach, he is still active in Dutch and German leagues.