Steve Contardi Archives - World Tennis Magazine

The longest-running, most comprehensive tennis fantasy camp in the world marks a special anniversary this coming October.

The 30^th edition of Tennis Fantasies with John Newcombe and the Legends will take place from Sunday, October 15 to Friday, October 20, 2017 at the John Newcombe Tennis Ranch in New Braunfels, Texas (30 miles from San Antonio).

Tennis Fantasies was created in 1988 by Steve Contardi. A Cincinnati-based tennis club manager and veteran teaching pro, Contardi the previous year had attended a baseball fantasy camp and asked himself a simple question: Why not try this with tennis? Contardi soon joined forces with Newcombe, a three-time Wimbledon singles champion who also operated one of the world’s preeminent tennis facilities.

A male-only event, Tennis Fantasies takes place only one week a year. Approximately 80 campers play on teams under the eyes of the legends – players who have accumulated more than 150 Grand Slam titles. In addition to coaching during singles and doubles matches, campers receive tactical and technical instruction and spend time with the legends virtually round-the-clock, including all meals and ample time mixing beer and blarney inside the ranch’s Waltzing Matilda Room.

Laver Attending for Third Time

The presence of Laver – often considered the greatest player in tennis history – has added an exciting new dimension. Laver first came to Tennis Fantasies in 2014 and in 2017 will appear for the third time. “It was great to come and spend time with all my friends who I’d competed against,” said Laver, “and then it was terrific to meet all the campers and see how much they loved playing and being around the tennis.”

Said Newcombe, “The repeat rate is more than 70 percent, so over the years everyone from the legends to the campers have really made this a special community. Competition and camaraderie are the cornerstones of Tennis Fantasies. People leave blood on the court – and then they eat their meals together. It’s a lot like the days when we were all traveling the world.”

Hall of Famers Newcombe and Laver will be joined in 2017 by 12 additional coaches, including five other Hall of Famers: Roy Emerson, Fred Stolle, Mark Woodforde, Owen Davidson and Charlie Pasarell. Rounding out the staff are seven Grand Slam champions: Marty Riessen, Rick Leach, Brian Gottfried, Dick Stockton, Luke Jensen, Murphy Jensen and Ross Case.

For more information about Tennis Fantasies, contact Steve Contardi at 1-800-874-7788 or email him at SteveContardi@towneproperties.com

Rod Laver, often considered the best player in tennis history, will make his debut at tennis’ original fantasy camp, Tennis Fantasies with John Newcombe and the Legends, this coming October. The 2014 edition of this once-a-year event takes place October 19-24 at the John Newcombe Tennis Ranch in New Braunfels, Texas (30 miles from San Antonio).

Laver is the only player in tennis history to have earned a calendar year sweep of all four of tennis’ major singles events on two occasions – attaining Grand Slam as an amateur in 1962 and then as a professional in 1969.

“When it comes to tennis legends they don’t stand any taller than Rod Laver,” said Newcombe. “His presence will add even more to our Tennis Fantasies community. We’re all looking forward to having him join us as a coach and a friend.”

Said Laver, “John and all our mates have been telling me about this event for years and how it brings to life all the qualities we Aussies enjoyed so much when we traveled the world — a wonderful mix of competition and camaraderie. I can’t wait to be at Newk’s ranch in October and be a part of it first-hand.”

Over the course of a career that spanned nearly 20 years, Laver won 20 major titles, including the singles at Wimbledon four times. Laver’s brilliant, left-handed game, coupled with exemplary sportsmanship both on and off the court, has inspired such champions as Pete Sampras, John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova – each of whom cite him as their stylistic role model. Millions of tennis fans across the globe have also been thoroughly captivated by the man nicknamed “The Rocket.”

Laver joins a superb Tennis Fantasies troupe of coaches. The 2014 roster includes Hall of Famers Newcombe, Roy Emerson, Fred Stolle, Owen Davidson, Mark Woodforde and Charlie Pasarell, as well as such Grand Slam champions as Rick Leach, Ross Case, Dick Stockton, Brian Gottfried, Murphy Jensen and Marty Riessen. Hall of Famers Ken Rosewall, Tony Roche, Mal Anderson, Manuel Santana, Guillermo Vilas and Cliff Drysdale have also been among the participants over the course of the event’s history.

Campers who attend this all-male event engage with the legends round-the-clock. The week-long program features instructional clinics, competitive match play, on-court coaching, fantasy matches, question-and-answer sessions – all adding up to the special mix of competition and camaraderie that makes Australia arguably the most significant nation in tennis history.

Tennis Fantasies was founded by Newcombe and Steve Contardi in 1988. Contardi has been the manager and director of tennis at the Club at Harper’s Point (Cincinnati) for nearly 40 years. Over this time he has also worked with the likes of prominent coach Nick Bollettieri and Hall of Famer Arthur Ashe.

The 2014 edition of Tennis Fantasies with John Newcombe and the Legends takes place October 19–24. To learn more, contact Steve Contardi at 1-800-874-7788, 513-489-9700, or via e-mail at stevec@towneproperties.com