A new Head Professional has been appointed by Bristol Real Tennis Club. He is Zak Eadle who is ranked men’s world number 24.
Within days of taking up his post last month Zak took on Lea Van der Zwalmen in a match during an Open Day at the club giving those new to the game a chance to try it out.
Lea Van der Zwallmen, who went to Clifton College, is ranked as the World Number 2 women’s Real Tennis player.
She has previously represented France in junior squash. When she moved to Clifton College to study she retired from squash to focus on her rackets career.
Bristol Real Tennis Club is the only one of its kind in the Bristol area. Enthusiasts from Bath and Bristol who did not have a ‘home court’ decided to build one at Abbots Leigh in 1998.
Real Tennis is an indoor sport founded in medieval France. Originally the players used their hands to hit the ball. Rackets were added later.