Healthy Living Sport: 2009

The tennis tournament that uses models as ballgirls

Could this be the prettiest ballgirl in tennis history? Hugo Boss would certainly like us to think so.

Showing off her ever-ready ball skills, this catwalk beauty was just one of a team of trained adult models appearing at the Madrid Masters in Spain.

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Who's boss? A model ballgirl captures viewers' attention in Madrid

The ATP tournament hosted some of the greats of the tennis circuit - Rafael Nadal, Carlos Moya, and Manolo Santana.

But unlike other tennis championships around the world, in Madrid the tennis stars come second.

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New balls please: the ballgirls line up at the Madrid Masters

Here it is the model ballgirls - all clad in pink and blue outfits emblazoned with Hugo Boss - who draw the crowds.

Despite drawing the ire of Spanish government officials, equality groups and even American hero Andre Agassi, the marketing stunt looks set to stay.

Not that this year's testosterone-fuelled male tennis stars seemed to mind.

That's a funny way to catch the ball

Wimbledon and Merton

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Tennis for everyone

Tennis isn’t just for the country club. It’s also part of the city scene. Our guest poster, Esther, is a tennis enthusiast based in New York City. She firmly believes that “getting your child interested in activities will help them manage their time better, make more friends and succeed in school.” We firmly believe that some day your little budding tennis star will be able to score you Wimbeldon tickets! So consider the investment a good one, all the way around.

Do you live in NYC? Did you watch the US Open? Are your children eager to learn tennis? Do they play with a racquet even in your cramped apartment every chance that they get? If so, you may want to consider giving your child tennis lessons.

The bad news is that in NYC tennis options are scarce. The good news is that I am here to your rescue. I realized the need for tennis classes for young children and started a tennis program. I rent space at a facility in Murray Hill and I also give classes at Ys, JCCs, and schools. I am able to do this because my business is portable. I have portable nets that I set up within minutes. We use lightweight racquets and nerf balls.

Here are some activities that kids can look forward to in my class. We teach kids the fundamentals of tennis: forehands, backhands, volleys, and overheads. To keep the tennis class lively we often play games. We often partake in the game Graduation, where kids get to move up a grade each time they are able to connect with the ball. We play in which kids are able to run and dodge balls when they hit a certain number of balls, Does this sound like fun to you? If so you should check out Elf Tennis!

tennis-racket-balls1 Are you looking to reinforce tennis skills learned and practice tennis with your children? If so, here are some tips.

Set reasonable expectations. Don’t try to get your children to play for an hour. Try 15 minutes initially. Don’t try to hit the ball to them with a racquet. Instead throw the ball to them. Try to stand close to them rather than far away. If they are not successful this way, guide them through the swing and toss the ball in front of them. Always be supportive of your child. Try to applaud even the smallest accomplishment. This will keep your kids interested in the game rather than giving up in discouragement. Put a ball on a string and then hold ball on string, hold it in front of your child and have them hit it. You can also try placing the ball on a tea ball bat and have the kids hit the ball off of the bat. Having a ball in a stationary place makes it easier for the kids to connect with the ball. You can even vary the ball you use. Consider using a balloon. Be a good role model for your kids. Learn the correct technique for stroking the ball if you don’t’ already know about tennis. You can accomplish this by either taking lessons for yourself, purchasing Tennis Magazine at a bookstore or watching tennis matches. You don’t need to become an expert in tennis but being able to demonstrate how to hit a tennis ball comes in handy. I am considering running a class for parents.

World Highest Tennis Court

Yes the picture's real. Burj Al Arab in Dubai is home to the world's highest tennis court (at times). At 210 meters (about 690 feet), it's pretty far up there. Way higher than I'd feel comfortable running around hitting a ball. The court doubles as a landing pad when there aren't any matches being played, and as a place to shit your pants the rest of the time.

Video of Andre Agassi and some other guy playing tennis up there after the jump. I like how at the end they just start wailing balls off of the side trying to hit things. Because that's what I would do.