The Svetlana Kuznetsova Cup

Posted on 18 May, 2017

By Susana Zaragoza, Online Marketer at Academia Sánchez-Casal in Naples, Florida “Believe in your abilities, be humble, but also be hungry for success”. “I hope this tournament will help young players to have their chance to compete” Svetlana Kuznetsova. The Sánchez-Casal Academy is currently holding the Svetlana Kuznetsova Cup series, a $25,000 Women’s Pro-Circuit tournament held over two weeks. The series made its debut last week with a highly competitive draw, including rising stars Taylor Townsend, ranked No. 134 in the word, Kayla Day (WTA No. 143), and Samantha Crawford, once ranked No. 98 in the world. It marks the first time that a women’s tennis event of this level has been held in Southwest Florida. The series was named after Svetlana Kuznetsova, honouring the world No. 8 tennis player who trained and studied at the Sánchez-Casal Academy for 10 years. Sveta arrived at Sánchez-Casal when she was 14 years old. She mastered her game quickly, reaching World Juniors ITF No. 1 in just two years. After transitioning from Junior to professional level, she won the US Open in 2004, 9 WTA Singles tournaments, 13 Doubles tournaments, as well as 3 Fed Cups with the Russian national team. The Russian player is deeply loved by the ASC team of coaches, teachers and alumni. ASC CEO and founder Emilio Sanchez explains about her: “Svetlana is a great player, but first and foremost she is a good person. She’s humble, affectionate, faithful and hardworking. I always had a special empathy with her. However, what inspired me the most about her were her strokes, her tennis style, and especially the way she confronted adversity in tennis and life.” “Sveta has always been thankful to the Academy and also with her tennis partners, friends and specially with me. I love her a lot. And on top of that, she’s been the pro player that has stayed the longest at Sanchez-Casal, almost 10 years”

That’s why when Academia Sanchez-Casal was granted two ITF / USTA Women’s Pro-Circuit tournaments, with a total prize money of $50,000, it came easily to the ASC team to give the series the name of the WTA player, as a recognition of her role in professional women’s tennis and also to offer an inspirational model to the tournament players.

We chatted to her during a break at the Mutua Madrid Masters, where she reached the semi-finals after winning against Canadian player Eugenie Bouchard, 6-4, 6-0. We asked her about her views on women’s tennis, professional tennis, and her tennis background as a junior: – What do you think of issues around women’s tennis? What could be done to give it more visibility? I think that every year women’s tennis is getting stronger. All female players are preparing more than before. Everyone is very fit and working hard. I think that women’s tennis is getting more and more popular. – You entered the ITF Circuit in 2000. What advice would you give to young tennis players that are in the same position right now, competing in the tournament? I would say to young players: “Believe in your abilities, be humble, but also be hungry for success”. -You reached a No. WTA career high in 2006, then had a major comeback, entering the top 10 again in 2016. What are your training and competition routines? My routines have become more and more simple. The most important thing is to listen to your body and see what’s works the best for you. Before a match, I just need my body and mind to get going – and to take a fresh approach to the game. – What victory do you remember the most? My favourite memories are definitely winning the Grand Slams and Fed cups representing my country. What are your memories of your training at the Sánchez-Casal Academy? I was very little when I came to the academy (ASC). Being there helped me to work on my game, and taught me so many other lessons. I also learnt Spanish. The Sánchez-Casal Academy is strongly committed to promoting and raising awareness of women’s tennis, and to providing equal opportunities in tennis, and in life. We are equally thrilled to host this two-week women’s tennis tournament and to name it after a role model in the sport. Good luck to all players and thank you Svetlana for all your support! Susana Zaragoza, Online Marketer Sánchez-Casal Academy, Florida

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ANDY RETURNS TO SÁNCHEZ-CASAL ACADEMY

Posted on 2 May, 2017

By Joanne Burns, Head of School at ES International School, Barcelona.

Murray returns to Academia Sánchez-Casal in Barcelona where he spent the “best two years of [his] life”, and enjoys reminiscing with his former coaches and teachers.

“Where’s the ice-cream machine that used to be here?”, was one of the pressing questions posed by world number one Sir Andy Murray when he came to visit his old training grounds at ASC in Barcelona. In town to play the Godó Open, Sir Andy Murray came to our Barcelona campus for a ceremony dedicating court number one in his honor. The hundred or so aspiring young student-athletes who attend ASC and ES International School listened in admiration, excitement, and wonder as Sir Andy spoke to them about his two years at the academy and school.

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Andy spoke about the valuable and lasting lessons he learned here, and his humble and unassuming demeanor made him accessible to the athletes – more like an older brother than the tennis-god he is. He fondly greeted his former ASC coaches: Pato Alvarez, Pep Plasin, and Sergio Casal. Our current student-athletes nodded, clapped and laughed in complicit understanding as Andy talked with them. The world number one highlighted the values of hard work, perseverance and discipline, which he attributes to his time at ASC. “I learned to work hard here, and I learned about discipline”, he told the student-athletes who today follow in his footsteps. “I haven’t been here in seven or eight years, so it’s really cool to come back. I never expected to get to number one in the world, but it happened, and a lot of it started here”.

Murray ASC 67

After the ceremony, Andy generously posed for selfies and signed a multitude of tennis gear for the young fans: tennis balls, hats, towels, mobile phone covers, shoes and t-shirts. His warmth and kindness were indicative of the bond he felt with the young student-athletes following in his footsteps on the red clay of ASC. Following the signing and photos, Andy requested to see his former classrooms and dorm room. His curiosity and excitement were palpable as he visited spaces where he had spent two of his most formative years.

Emilio Sánchez-Vicario, Director of Academia Sánchez-Casal, would tell you that he knew from the first day that Murray had what it takes to become a professional, but for me, his unsuspecting English Literature teacher back in September 2002, I had no idea of his potential. I remember vividly my first day teaching at the school, and finding a gangly, curly-haired Andy Murray in my English Literature class, fresh off the plane from Scotland, ready to play tennis and go to school. I remember he earned 100% on the English level test I gave him, in his quiet and unassuming way, obtaining excellence effortlessly, even in the classroom. Andy’s focus was definitely tennis, but that didn’t stop him from doing well at school too.

Murray and Burns Selfie

When Andy returned this week, he was nostalgic for the old times, and together, we visited the classroom where I taught him (now our school reception area). To my surprise, Andy was just as I remembered him. He was unassuming, modest, and genuinely thrilled to visit his old haunts. With childlike enthusiasm, he went from one room to the next, looking at the furniture and decorations in delight. He remembered his French classes, where he told us that his best friend always wanted to copy his homework. Like many alumni, he mostly remembered the mischief he and his friends got up to, but stories of trying to copy homework and stuffing themselves full of ice-cream just added to the delightful impression that he was reliving some of the fondest memories of his childhood.

I remember that in April of his first year in the school, Andy was heading off on a tournament, so I dutifully gave him two weeks’ worth of assignments that he would need to complete while away. However, his trip was to be a lot longer than I originally thought. Throughout April and May, he and his classmate Dani Vallverdu were unstoppable in Italy, winning no less than four Grade 1 and 2 ITF doubles tournaments in a row. Andy also won a grade 2 singles title on the same trip. Vallverdu would later become Murray’s hitting partner and coach: the bonds forged during this trip carrying through to their professional careers. When Andy did return from those tournaments, I remember his head was spinning from the overwhelming success he’d experienced, and he initially found it hard to concentrate in class. From then on, I could only sit back and watch him exceed everyone’s expectations. Andy was taking off as a player, and before I knew it, he had won the Junior US Grand Slam at the age of 17.

andy and emilio

This week, when Andy returned to inaugurate a court in his name, it was a mild mannered and excited alumnus I welcomed. After years on the tour, he greeted the young student-athletes like they were his old friends, and fondly reminisced about “the best years of [his] life”. After visiting his old dorm (room 4 in the residence), he stopped to watch one of our 14 year old annual players train on court with his coach. To the young player’s surprise, Andy stepped on court, borrowed the coach’s racket and began hitting. With the elegance, control and power the whole world has come to recognize as Andy’s style, he hit forehands and backhands with several of our annual players. Andy looked to be very much at home on the courts where years before he made the leap from amateur to professional. It was like he had never left, and we had that 15 year old, gangly Scottish kid back again. Except he’s not so gangly anymore. And he’s now number one in the world. It was great to welcome Andy home again. Next time, we’ll treat him to a free ice-cream!

Joanne Burns
Head of School, ES International School, Barcelona.

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#20 Successful Habits Of Overcoming Adversity

Posted on 20 April, 2017

By Emilio Sánchez Vicario, CEO & Founder at Sánchez-Casal Academy

#20 Practice your habits, and remember that you must practice a habit daily for between 21 days to three months before it will become part of your daily routine.

The past months have been very hard. With the school year beginning shortly, appeared to be promising year. The kids arrived back to school excited about setting and accomplishing new goals, objectives and dreams. There was a healthy and renovated vibe here at ESIS and ASC.

Foto de grupo con Casper

However, things changed suddenly when one of the early traveling teams (competition groups) traveled to the Caribbean to compete in some tournaments and get some ITF points. Competing in these tournaments allows players to play during the rest of the year at the ITF tournaments, as well as receive excellent options of being considered by college coaches. Of those kids, there was Casper. Casper had arrived from summer break with a substantial bump on his knee, suffering severe inflammation on it leading him to barely be able to walk. When arriving to Naples, we took him straight to the doctor and had them take him for an MRI. During that same afternoon, the radiologist called us, informing us that it was possible that these symptoms could be associated with four different diagnostics.

Out of everything the doctor said, his last sentence and his tone still echoes in my ears: “This boy should be with his parents as soon as possible”. I was paralyzed; out all the kids here, this kid and his family are the closest to me. Therefore, I knew I had to pick up the phone and find the inner courage to talk to them about the news I received earlier that day, regarding their son Casper. I remember it was a Wednesday afternoon and it was impossible for him to fly home that night; therefore, I had to be careful with what and how I told them the news, since their son wouldn’t be arriving home to Spain for at least another two days. I explained to them that he had to undergo an urgent surgery, but without giving them any further details. I was heartbroken when I had to finally give them the full news that next day, a few hours before Casper was to land in Madrid.

Casper Fernandez low resoltion

The first thing I did was go to Google and type in Ewing’s Sarcoma. It showed me that it was a bone tumor that forms on both the bone and soft tissue, and can often occur during the development stages, for young adults between the ages of 15 and 17 years old. Statistics say that one in every 4 million kids is diagnosed with this disease. Reading this, the tears began to roll down my cheeks, and my heart felt irreparable. I kept saying, Why? Why Casper? Why my friends?

When he arrived back to Spain, he was treated by the best oncologists in Madrid; there they confirmed the diagnosis and he began his journey with chemotherapy treatments.

In the beginning, we decided to just tell the news to the coaches and staff. Later on, we finally decided to inform the students, who were curious to know when Casper would be back. As months went by, the students realized that they couldn’t ignore the absence of their classmate and how much they missed his charisma and competitive heart. He was the kid who enjoyed competing more than anyone and who fought hard on the court. He is a born leader and was the one that others looked up too. One of his virtues is that he is a natural born tennis player who believes that everything is possible if you just work hard for it.

Casper Fernandez imagen poster

Normally the quotes I write about, talk about adversity and are about athletes that want to compete better. However, today I want to dedicate this quote to Casper and his family, and acknowledge what a challenging tennis match they are forced to play. The hardest of their lives, where creating new habits to reach the Ideal state is key to win such a hard rival. The love of his mother, who has stayed by his side every minute since then; the support of his father, who has been maintaining the balance and equilibrium; the rest of the family who are fully supporting them to give them strength and make them able to face this rival. Love, positivity, euphoria, laughter, support, all that gives you the strength to break the barriers and attain unexpected goals. That’s the reason why we are certain that Casper will win this match, because he is a warrior. He’s a warrior that will use all his tools against the adversary, and will take full advantage of the new habits he has developed to fight and in the end will succeed.

His classmates wanted to make their contribution and show him their love and support. The student council formed by River, Lucas and Jake with the support of the student council supervisor Mr. Meehle decided to create an event to raise funds for him. They also talked to Mr. Cook, the leader of our Tennis Club members. They wanted to raise funds to help him and his family to be able to afford the high expenses of his treatment. After several meetings and hard work, the students and tennis club members helped set up a great event on April 5^th where the students played tennis with the donors and helped with organizing a silent auction. Included in the auction were jewelry, artwork, tennis racquets and balls signed by Federer, Nadal or Verdasco. Besides ATP player Feliciano López, also friend of Casper’s family, came and played an exhibition match. It was a remarkable day. The students also had to face adversity by, getting out of their comfort zones to organize a real-life event. To do that, they seeked involvement from all of us, in order to make possible a day we will never forget.

Verdasco emilito

#Todossomoscasper #wereallcasper

That day Casper and his family were deeply moved and sent along messages of thankfulness, love and astonishment, feeling the love and acknowledgement after all those months of doubt and pain. Casper knows that his second home is his school in the US, and can’t wait to come back to thank his friends personally.

We are all Casper

We face some months ahead of fight, they have to keep on creating habits and the ideal state to compete. Casper will have to be strong; I’m certain that he will be able to use the same skills that he used on court, such as when he was losing and he set his mindset to win. Doctors are surprised to see how well he is managing all the torment of tests, surgery and treatments that he is undergoing and they are certain that thanks to the habits he earned while playing tennis, that he will be able to play this match much better. And what habits can he use? Starting by the discipline, followed by the rigor of what to eat and how to hydrate and even the habit of thinking that everything is possible, that is how he will be able to achieve anything. According to scientists, the mental state is the key to facing adversity, and we tennis players are experts in this field.

Casper has proved to be a fighter on and off court. He is overcoming the challenges he is facing. We are anxiously waiting for him to be discharged and welcome him back to his second home in Florida with open arms. Hoping he can be here in June for our ES International School graduation ceremony. We are so proud of you Casper!

Foto grupo casper

Emilio Sánchez Vicario
CEO & Founder at Sánchez-Casal Academy

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6 INSPIRATIONAL STORIES THAT WILL MAKE YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH TENNIS

Posted on 12 April, 2017

By Daniel Muñoz Pozo, Head of Communications & Media at Sánchez-Casal Academy.

Sánchez-Casal Academy is more than a high-performance center; it’s a place full of stories and dreams. It is the starting point for young tennis players and students who dream of a brighter future ahead.

We typically talk about the successful sports careers of Murray, Kuznetsova, Dimitrov, and Müller; however, we are also proud to present the stories of those who have distinguished themselves in the working world after trusting in us for their athletic and academic progress.

Let’s talk about 6 inspirational stories that will make you love tennis; 6 success stories born at Sánchez-Casal and ES International School. These are 6 stories from Sánchez-Casal alumni: Judith, Calum, Laslo, Zhanna, Victoria, and Lawrence.

1. The right mentality: hard work and perseverance

Judith Llorens, was one of the first student-athletes to join the Academy in 1998. Born in Girona, she is now the Facilities Manager of a major company in Barcelona. As she admits herself, she overcame several challenges, starting with the language barrier, and then raised her tennis level enough to gain a scholarship to study and play tennis in the United States. “The right mentality and hard work are two of the key character traits I learned at Sánchez-Casal, and they served me well in my personal and professional life.”

2. The personal experiences, the happy moments lived together

Calum Gee, originally from Scotland, is currently an Executive Manager at Ogilvy & Matter. When asked about his special moments at the academy, he doesn’t speak about himself as an individual, but rather the feeling of being part of a team, of “being with some of my closest friends, some of who I still live with today. I will always remember my times with them, whether it was at the pool, or on the tennis court, we were always having fun together”.

3. A broken dream that made him discover his vocation as a coach

Laszlo Fono, from Budapest, is currently a tennis coach, a vocation he discovered long after his initial dream to become a professional tennis player that did not materialize. Laszlo recently returned for the second time to the Academy, this time to attend the coaches’ course and discover his vocation.

“I wanted to be a professional tennis player. I tried it, and it wasn’t meant to be, but I discovered another vocation. I realized that the way I used to train at Sanchez-Casal was a comprehensive way to help other players, and that awakened my vocation to be a coach”, says Laszlo.

4. Experiences, loyalty, and the support of the great staff

Zhanna Nemykina, currently a banking agent in Switzerland, trained at Sanchez-Casal for a period of 2 years. She recalls that her best moments were related to feeling supported by all the staff members. This unconditional support made her realize that “you should give 100%, regardless of your mood or your objectives, including during the stages when you are not sure of where all this will lead you”.

Alumni Dinner_42

5. The experience that made me internally stronger and revealed to me my true self

Victoria Weiland, from Berlin, is currently the Director of Marketing & PR at Adlon Holding GmbH. She spent a season at the Academy and affirms that the capacity of sacrifice and of overcoming obstacles that she learned during that season made her change the way she sees life, because she realized that life is full of challenges.

“The experience changed me. My ability to sacrifice and overcome adversities was put to test, and it made me stronger. This is something I will cherish for life”, says Victoria.

6. Discipline, in tennis and studies, is a principal value of life

Lawrence Harradine, from the United Arab Emirates spent 4 years at Sánchez-Casal and is currently a Senior Events Executive at Sport360. Without any doubt, his years at the Academy were truly challenging in terms of successfully combining tennis and studies.

“The discipline I learned at the academy marked me forever”. This discipline, together with strict organization, and the tough demand to combine tennis with studies, made me mature quickly and learn important lessons “both in my professional and personal life”.

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As you can see, these 6 stories represent people like you and me: people with a link to sports, tennis, and studies, and unforgettable experiences in the Sánchez-Casal Academy.

In the Spring of 2016, the first Alumni Meeting was held in AS-C Barcelona. It brought together many former student-athletes, who shared their stories of special moments, smiles and complicity, but they also shared their struggles, achievements, and lessons learned.

How about you? What dreams do you have? Would you like to start writing your own story with us?

Daniel Muñoz Pozo
Head of Communications & Media at Sánchez-Casal Academy

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Game, Set, Fight=Cure

Posted on 4 April, 2017

By Adam Meehle, Social Studies Teacher at ESIS and Student Council Advisor, River Hart, ESIS Student Council President, and Lucas Bueno, ESIS Student Council Vice-President

To a teacher, the children in his or her classroom are not just students; they are a part of their family. Whenever you hear a teacher telling stories about their day, the students are always referred to as “my kids.” That is what teaching will do to a person; it grows your heart bigger and bigger with every passing day. I have had Casper Fernandez in my classes here at ES International School for two years, and just as with any teenager, he has frustrated and exhausted me, but most important, he has made me proud to be his teacher. The word “cancer” has the ability to cut through the heart of any person. But when the diagnosis is for a teenager with so much ambition and potential, it cuts even deeper.

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Can I Spend my Summer Break on the Court Please?

Posted on 29 March, 2017

By Eva Borras, Athlete Mind Director at Sánchez-Casal Academy

Hi Mom, Hi Dad,

I finish school in two weeks, and I can’t wait! No homework, no waking up early in the morning, no class or studying for exams… yeaaaahhh! I can’t wait to wake up when I want, watch TV, go out with my friends all day, swim at the pool, eat ice cream, go to the cinema… and have fun in the holidays.

Mom, you know this year I made loads of effort, and got really good marks at school – even in Math, which you know I find really difficult! My teachers are really proud of me. I want to ask you if this summer, apart from spending time with you and my friends, I can do something special and go somewhere new. A place where I can make new friends from around the world, play tennis (which I love!) and practice my English – you’re always saying how important that is!

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#19 SUCCESSFUL HABITS FOR OVERCOMING ADVERSITY

Posted on 21 March, 2017

By Emilio Sánchez Vicario, CEO & Founder at Sánchez-Casal Academy

#19 Adversity creates fear and rage, but you can beat these by calling on the values that you practice. Beating adversity becomes a habit, and it is a really amazing feeling to beat it over and over again.

I’m writing from the terrace of the players’ lounge at the Indian Wells event, where the view is incredible, and the Desert Mountains in the background resemble a postcard. Fernando just finished his match, as the hot temperature reached its peak around 120 Fahrenheit. It was a tough loss; Fernando couldn’t handle adversity the way I was hoping he could. We had practiced these types of situations a little, but after analyzing the match, it has become clear that these practices haven’t become a habit yet.

INdian well 2017

There were chances and opportunities presented to him, but he could not make them materialize in results, as he was more focused on fighting with himself than on his opponent. It was a frustrating sensation. As I’m writing, I keep thinking of how I could have turned this situation around, and to find the solution, I need to ask myself: Why does he get so angry with himself when he plays against the best Spanish player ever? Why is he so tough on himself?

I’m sad because I was very motivated to get positive results quickly, and this was a good opportunity, as he was playing against Nadal, Federer, and Djokovic before semi’s. Can you believe this difficult draw? It could have been an incredible opportunity to beat an entire tennis history in same event! But it just wasn’t meant to be this time.

When we talked after the match, I explained to him as I do many times to the students in the Academy, that we can’t focus on results, we just have to focus on enjoying the ride and the fight. To enjoy these type of matches you have to become resilient, and to get to that state, you need to face adversity. If he manages to become more resilient against the top players, he will be able to handle the pressure much better, face his problems, control his negative emotions, activate his abilities in difficult moments, learn from mistakes, recover better, and survive any adversity.

2017 BNP Paribas Open

I have realized once again that tennis is such a difficult sport. As I was leaving the court I felt like a tennis player again: I felt the competition, looked into the opponent’s eyes, felt the desire to succeed, the frustration after a mistake in a key point, and I lived the visualization of what was going to happen. What I found the most difficult was reading the opponent’s game. Still, I was happy to be there.

It was great to be in the front row again, and it was an amazing feeling to be rooting for a player who has an amazing game and can dominate against anyone. I hope next time I can help him a bit more, and create new habits in practice that will make him believe in his game. I just had a long conversation with him about the match, and he believes in himself, but he is also aware of his weaknesses and knows he has to be more resilient. It won’t be easy, but I love challenges – the more difficult the better.

E Sanchez V Indian Wells 2017 11

After so many years away from the Tour, a lot of faces have changed, but the work and the positions are exactly the same:

We have young trainees (new players) who have a great work ethic and nothing to lose.
We have players at their career peak (top players), who are tough and indestructible, and whose skills are almost perfect technically, tactically, physical and mentally.
We also have senior players who have a lot of experience and are mentally tough, but might not be as physically fit anymore.

With some minor exceptions, the players from these three categories are equal in a match, but they have the same opponent: adversity, and its power to generate anger and fear. Don’t let adversity inspire the worst in you – you must learn to control it.

Picture from BNP Paribas Open

It’s going to be a great challenge for both of us, but looking at the horizon and the mountains around Indian Wells, I can guarantee that I will keep dreaming and believing. We will face our next big encounter with improved competitive skills and we will be more capable of conquering that eternal foe, adversity.

Emilio Sánchez Vicario
CEO & Founder at Sánchez-Casal Academy

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ANTIOXIDANTS: THE GREAT ALLIES OF YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

Posted on 14 March, 2017

By Sergi Bonillo, Food and Beverage manager at Academia Sánchez-Casal, Barcelona.

Practicing sports involves the generation of free radicals, which must be counteracted with antioxidants. When the balance between free radicals and antioxidants tips in favor of free radicals, a number of processes are started that are associated with the development of various diseases. Therefore, nutrition for elite athletes and amateurs should provide a good amount of antioxidants.

One goal of good nutrition for athletes must be to prevent this oxidation, with foods like fresh fruits, vegetables, and green juices. We can highlight the coenzyme Q10, which also helps to optimize energy cells and to combat physical fatigue. Q10 helps to protect cells from attack by free radicals, replacing them and returning them to their normal state.

Captura 1

What are free radicals?

Free radicals are highly reactive molecules, and the result of these molecule reactions is to generate a disruption in cell membranes in our body.

Free radicals are produced in most body cells through the body’s own cellular metabolism and also by the action of toxic agents. There are two types of free radicals:

Internal: caused by very intense exercise, stress, and our own metabolism.
External: caused by a poor diet (malnutrition), consumption of snuff, alcohol, drugs, pollution, and excess exposure to the sun.

How is our health affected by free radicals?

The main consequence of free radicals is aging. The accumulation over the years of free radicals can modify the membranes of epithelial cells and this hampers skin nutrition. Similarly, collagen cells and elastin are also damaged, so the skin loses its firmness and elasticity.
Free radicals also generate problems in the cardiovascular system, as they accelerate the hardening of the arterial walls, encouraging the appearance of arteriosclerosis. The endothelium is responsible for maintaining the balance between the processes of thrombosis-fibrosis and vasodilation-constriction. Excess oxidation caused by free radicals affects the endothelial wall, which becomes unable to perform its duties properly. LDL (low density lipoprotein) uptake is affected as well, and for this reason the LDL remains the bloodstream.
Furthermore, free radicals can trigger problems in the nervous system as the impulse of the nerves can decrease. The same weakening can also happen to the reflexes, memory and learning. If blood flow to the nervous system decreases, a person can even suffer senile dementia.

How can we fight free radicals?

We can use endogenous and exogenous antioxidants to counteract free radicals effects.

It’s difficult to influence endogenous antioxidants, since they are enzymes (proteins) with an antioxidant capacity which are not eliminated in reaction to free radicals. Rather, they are dependent on their cofactors, such as copper, iron, zinc, magnesium and selenium.
Exogenous antioxidants come from the diet, and, unlike the enzymes, they get consumed by reacting with free radicals and must be replaced.

What natural products are related to the antioxidant action?

Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Zinc, Coenzyme Q10, Manganese, Beta-carotene, Selenium, Carrot Oil (high in vitamin A), Selenium Yeast, Standing Lion extract (high in flavonoids), Acacia powder (high in flavonoids), Rosa canine (high in vitamin C and flavonoids and A), and Wheat germ (high in vitamin E) are all related to antioxidant action.

In conclusion, if you want to stay healthy and provide your cells with food to prevent aging caused by the practice of sports, you must maintain an antioxidant rich diet.

Sergi Bonillo
Food and Beverage manager at Academia Sánchez-Casal Barcelona

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#18 SUCCESSFUL HABITS FOR OVERCOMING ADVERSITY

Posted on 7 March, 2017

By Emilio Sánchez Vicario, CEO & Founder at Sánchez-Casal Academy

#18 Your mind has the ability to create, produce, develop, cut and forget anything. Adversity can do the same, but only if you allow it. Don’t allow it.

Our mind is the most powerful tool available to us. It can take us to the top. In fact, at the Academy we know that if our players want to enter the elite tennis world, their mind will be the key factor. They need perfect technique, they need to know how to use their tools tactically, and they need physical strength and fitness they can rely on at all times. But all this becomes useless if the players are not in their ideal mental state to compete. Only the mind will allow them to reach the top of the Elite.

We have many examples of this in the history of tennis. Roger Federer himself explains that his tennis career changed in 2003 due to a very simple factor: he took the conscious decision that he was able to win. And so he did, becoming the first Swiss player to win a Grand Slam, at Wimbledon, on July 6 of the same year.

Fotografía propiedad Tennis World Usa

Rafa Nadal is another perfect example of mental strength, and he describes it using very simple words: “If you cannot control your nerves, it’s much more likely that things will go wrong. You have to train yourself to have more mental strength.” Novak Djokovic also confirms that everything begins even before stepping onto the court: “It begins with what you are doing to prepare yourself mentally for the match, and with being in the right mental state with yourself.”

This really is true. Our mind is our most powerful tool on court, and we see it every day. Tennis is a very demanding sport mentally, requiring strong focus, maximum attention, and motivation for a long period of time. However, it is also a noble and generous sport because it allows you to overcome adverse situations and rectify problems in the middle of a match. If you have the mental strength to recognize what you’re doing wrong and apply positive mental habits, you can turn many situations around.

However, the mind is also our most dangerous tool. There are other sports, for example, that do not provide a second chance. Edurne Pasaban has climbed the 14 highest mountains in the world, all the “eight-thousanders”, and she has experienced this very closely.

Picture from edurnepasaban.com

The mountain has given her everything, but the mountain has also taken a lot away from her. She has seen three of her friends die by her side: while climbing together, they disappeared into the void. These tragedies, plus a very dangerous episode while descending K2 and other personal issues, took their toll on her in the end. She stopped climbing, and abandoned her passion. The mental struggles she experienced as a result of her difficulties threw her to a deep depression that almost cost her her life.

How can a person who has overcome the most difficult of challenges, who has lived extreme situations and survived, lose her ability to keep on fighting? And how can she get that ability back?

Only Edurne’s determination was able to empower her enough to overcome her “most difficult eight-thousander”. Edurne knows clearly what is needed: firstly, to be aware of the situation you are in. Secondly, decide to overcome it, because, in her own words, “You can overcome situations only because you decide to overcome them”. Thirdly, allow yourself to be helped, and never stop persevering.

Mental strength, tolerance to frustration, emotional control, and self-confidence are crucial qualities for an athlete, whether you may be a mountaineer, a tennis player, a biker, or a triathlete. As Edurne tells us: “You have to be physically prepared, but that’s only 25%. The other 75% is your mind“.

We can and we must work on improving these features, focusing on playing point by point, and persevering, without failing.

It is the mind. It is always the mind. Train your mind; reinforce it. Give it tools to overcome difficulties. Make it a habit to mentally create, produce, develop and overcome the most adverse situations. Only your mental strength will mark the difference between you and others and will lead you to true excellence.

Thank you to Eva Pascual, co-author of this post.

Emilio Sánchez Vicario
CEO & Founder at Sánchez-Casal Academy

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HOW TO CHOOSE A SUMMER CAMP

Posted on 28 February, 2017

By Eva Pascual, Marketing department, Sánchez-Casal Academy.

After the winter holidays, we begin to think about the next summer vacation. And, those of us who are parents, are already thinking about how we are going to fill our children’s long summer holidays.

If our children love sport, summer is the ideal time for them to dedicate themselves to their favorite sport and take a step forward in their level.

There is an almost endless selection of intensive tennis, soccer, basketball or other sports camp options. Choosing the right camp for each child can be tricky. In Academia Sánchez-Casal we have been organizing Summer Camps for almost 20 years and we know very well what parents, players and even coaches from other clubs are looking for when they entrust their children in us.

First of all, when selecting a sports camp, we should look at the program content. The main objective is that young athletes, tennis players in our case, take advantage of their stay and get a boost to their technique, their tactical resources and their physical performance. In addition, they must acquire habits and behaviors that help them improve their game.

Therefore, it’s important to look at the details of each sports program. How many hours do they spend training on court each day? What is the ratio of players per court and per coach? Does the program include physical training? If so, how many hours? In addition, it is not only a question of hours, but it is also important to see if the program is well structured, has defined objectives, is implemented with a clear and concrete methodology, and is carried out by competent, trained coaches.

At Sánchez-Casal we work with an exclusive training system, unique in the world, and with proven effectiveness: Murray, Kuznetsova, Dimitrov, Hantuchova, and others have been athletes in our Academy and have been formed with our training system. All our coaches are qualified by the RPT and the USPTA, and train with a ratio of two players per court.

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In addition to the sports program contents, there are other important factors that parents and athletes should take into consideration:

The player must be well looked after, receive adequate care, and should feel at home. We achieve this with good organization and good management between all the different departments. The staff in Admissions, Accommodation, Restaurant, Reception, and Transportation, for example, must all work together and coordinate well to ensure the welfare and safety of our young athletes.

Fun is also an important factor. It is summer, the kids are on vacation and they should be enjoying their time. A complete program of leisure activities for their free time ensures that there are no tedious or boring moments. Other factors to consider are the facilities of the academy and the possibility of participating in other activities. The Sanchez-Casal facilities include a swimming pool, soccer field, basketball and beach volleyball courts, ping-pong tables, gardens, and terraces, to help facilitate a diversity of activities.

Having comfortable spaces and organized entertainment provides players with opportunities to interact with other players and gain an important benefit from our Summer Camps: by interacting with other players from around the world, players experience cultural enrichment and become more open minded, as well as having authentic opportunities to practice different languages.

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Languages are, in fact, one of the key factors that parents take into account when sending their children to a Summer Camp abroad: it is a great opportunity to learn a foreign language. Being able to combine an intensive and professional tennis training program with English or Spanish classes is an important added factor. Furthermore, parents want to make sure that these classes are taught by native and competent teachers. This is something parents should always prioritize.

Last but not least, we should take into consideration all aspects related to logistics, accommodation and other secondary services. Is it safe to send my child alone? Who will pick him/her up at the airport? Who will accompany my child back to the airport and provide help with the boarding process? Where will my child be housed? Can my child keep his/her passport and money in a safe place? Will my child be able to wash his/her clothes? Where and what will my child eat? Who will take care of my child if he/she gets sick or injured?

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As parents, our children are the most important thing in our world and we want to guarantee that they will be well taken care of and will enjoy their summer experience. Aspects such as accommodation, shuttle service, medical insurance and adequate medical attention, laundry, bank service, restaurant, and shopping may seem minor, but they cannot be taken for granted and should be well coordinated.

High performance training, fun, comfort and safety are key factors that a Summer Camp should provide to any child. These are the key factors that will make our children learn and, at the same time, enjoy an unforgettable summer.

You can find all of these key factors in the Academia Sánchez-Casal Summer Camps. Let your children live the “ASC Experience” this summer. They will never forget it!

Eva Pascual
Marketing department, Sánchez-Casal Academy

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