Pauline’s Story: from first timer to camp pro

We caught up with Pauline, a five-time Nike Tennis Camps attendee, to hear about her journey - from a nervous 12-year-old arriving on camp for the first time, to a confident player with lifelong friendships and amazing memories.

What first made you want to attend Nike Tennis Camps?

Honestly, it wasn’t really my choice at first - my mum encouraged me to go when I was 12. I was very close to her and didn’t want to leave, so I was quite reluctant. The first couple of days were actually really tough - I even made a little calendar to count down the days until pick up!

But everything changed once I met my friends. I completely forgot about going home and just started enjoying the experience. After that, I came back every year for five years.

How were you feeling before you first arrived at camp?

I was really nervous. I cried all the way from Belgium to England because I didn’t want to go. When my mum left, I felt scared and thought I’d be alone for two weeks - but that feeling didn’t last long.

What made those first few days challenging?

At the time, I wasn’t very good at tennis, and my English wasn’t strong either. I found it difficult to communicate at first, which was hard.

But people noticed I was struggling and came over to talk to me and include me. Even if we didn’t fully understand each other straight away, we still found ways to communicate and support each other, which helped a lot.

What do you remember most about your first day?

I remember playing a lot of tennis - much more than I was used to. At home, I only played for a couple of hours a week, so it was a big adjustment.

I also remember the coaches. I arrived on court crying, and one of the coaches, Gill, told me to stop crying and promised I’d have fun. I didn’t believe him at the time, but he was right!

How has your tennis improved over the years at camp?

My tennis improved a lot! I started at 12, and now I’m 17. Recently, I even won a tournament, which I could never have imagined when I first started.

At camp, you’re playing for hours every day - sometimes up to five hours - so your level naturally improves. It’s intense, but it also makes tennis more enjoyable because you see real progress.

What makes the coaching at camp stand out?

The coaches group players by level, so you’re always training with people at a similar standard. They also give really personalised feedback - taking you aside, showing you what to improve, and then checking back in to see your progress.

One technique that we worked on a lot was “spinning the ball.” I didn’t understand it at first, but it’s something the coaches emphasise every year, and it’s really improved my performance on the court.

Have you had any memorable moments or breakthroughs?

One of my strongest memories isn’t about tennis - it’s meeting my best friend.

On my first day, I was struggling on court, and she came over, introduced herself, and encouraged me to join her. Even though I didn’t understand much English at the time, she helped me play, improve, and enjoy the experience. She’s still my best friend today.

What is the atmosphere like at camp?

It’s always so much fun. Every year feels different, but the atmosphere is always positive and social.

You meet people from all over the world, and living together makes the experience even better. The staff are also amazing - they’re supportive, fun, and really look after you. I remember in my first year, someone from the team even stayed with me and talked to me until I fell asleep because I was homesick.

Have you made lasting friendships?

Definitely. My best friend lives in another country, but we’ve stayed close ever since we met at camp. We’re even planning trips together now.

I’ve also made other great friends along the way. These relationships are a huge part of why I kept coming back.

Did you face any challenges during your time at camp?

Yes - especially balancing improving my tennis while also learning English. That was probably the hardest part in my first two years.

But the coaches were always patient and supportive. They never made me feel bad if I didn’t understand something, which really helped me grow in confidence.

How has camp helped you beyond tennis?

It’s helped me see the world differently. At home, people often stay within their own environment, but at camp I met people from so many different countries and cultures.

It made me realise there are so many different ways to live and think, and that really helped me grow as a person.

What kept you coming back each year?

The coaches and my friends. The coaches would always say, “See you next year,” and I didn’t want to break that promise.

But mostly, it was the friendships. When I left camp for the last time, I was really emotional - it had been such a big part of my life for five years.

What advice would you give to someone attending for the first time?

Stay for two weeks if you can - it takes time to settle in.

Don’t worry if your English isn’t perfect - everyone is in the same situation. Just focus on having fun. And don’t be scared - I was, but it ended up being one of the best experiences of my life.

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