BRADENTON, Fla. (WWSB) – One of the best kept secrets when it comes to the game of tennis might be right here on the Suncoast.
The Inspiration Academy in Bradenton brought on Abrie DuPlooy as the Director of Tennis this past year. He brings nearly three decades of experience to the Suncoast.
“You know there's a lot of good players here,†Abrie DuPlooy said.
“I wanted to work with more international flavor, all the top kids, and then build it from the bottom. I thought this was the best area in America, you know, is Florida for tennis,†he added.
The former standout at the University of Tennessee, who later achieved success on the world stage, has brought that wealth of knowledge and experience to Bradenton.
He serves up many great points as to why the area won him over.
“The first thing is the location,†DuPlooy said.
“We have an unbelievable location. Five minutes from the beach, seventeen minutes from the airport, you know.â€
“I like the location because it's right by the water,†Inspiration Academy tournament participant and visiting instructor Isabella Sambolla said.
“After practice if you want to go to the beach it's like 5-10 minutes away,†she added.
Du Plooy continued to give a variety of points as if serving for a win on the court.
“It's a smaller academy,†he said.
We have a school attached to it. We've got ten courts. We have clay and a hard. We're focusing more on the individual here, so it's not that big. So kids get that personal attention that they won't normally get at the bigger academies,” he added.
That might be a game winner for many players.
“I think it's good that it's small, because bigger academies, personally, it's a lot,†Sambolla said.
“You don't get as much of a personal feel to it. So yeah, I really love this place. I think anyone could come here and learn tennis and fall in love with it,†she added.
Sambolla has been playing for ten years, and has been coached by DuPlooy since she was twelve-years-old in New Orleans.
“He's very caring,†Sambolla said.
“He does make an effort. He wants the best for everyone in this academy. And whoever is coming in for the tournament he wants the absolute best for them. So that's just all you could ask for a coach that cares about everyone and is looking for new players, and he'll welcome you with open arms,†she added.
It's the personal attention that sets the academy apart for many.
“The people see it,†DuPlooy said.
“When they come here they see we care, and we have the knowledge to help them out. And we're always learning. We're learning everyday. But that's what they look for, us caring, following up, watching their matches, and building them from the ground up and being positive, and sometimes being a little tough too you know,†he added.
Players both near and far are going out of their way to come to Bradenton to draw their inspiration.
“I'm from Clearwater, so I drive up here,†Alex Vogelgesang said.
“This is the best facility, the best tournament. Sarasota and Bradenton, I would say is probably one of the best places to play tennis in the entire world. This is really high level stuff out here, so it's really awesome to be able to experience that,†he added.
Alex marveled over some of the players he mixes it up with at the academy on a regular basis.
“There's a good chance you're playing someone and then in like twenty years I'm going to say look at that guy on TV,†Vogelgesang said.
“I used to play that guy. Like I said, I think the best players in the world play and train in Bradenton and Sarasota, and they're here. So for me to be able to experience that level of tennis I think makes me a way better tennis player, and I'm very grateful that I get to experience it,†he added.
DuPlooy says that there are summer camps available for children ages 5-18 at Inspiration Academy, with training for levels beginner through advanced.
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