Growing up, I lived in a poor area of a small town called Tarare. Our community was -- poor in money but rich in diversity. Living in this community taught me to respect, understand and celebrate the different cultures, perspectives and values of my neighbors and friends. To me it is what make us human. 

Growing up, my mom would often let my younger brother and I out of the house to play with our friends: football, basketball, handball, BMX racing... we did them all. With every game we played my love for sport grew: not only was I being active but I was also discovering how my body moved and behaved, how my mind could push my limits further and further. Sport gave me many friends: some of them were excellent at football and not so good at the other sports, others were good at all of them and some where not good at any of them; but we always had a lot of fun. It didn't matter to us how good or bad you were because even the player who was always picked last was respected: he had the same rights to play, have fun and win or lose.

10is Academy exists today because I want to help you and your child(ren) to see the world through someone else’s eyes and by doing so, create a world where these differences are celebrated. A world where you feel safe, taken care of, and belong.

10is Academy is now 4 years old. Four years. Wow. Some of you have been with us since the very beginning and many of you are just starting your sportive journey with us. All of you are here because you believe in the power of sport, in particular tennis,  and the positive impact it can have. 

What we are building is different. Our Academy is not driven by trophies or eyeballs, but rather your desire to be the best you can be. Trophies and Awards are a consequence of your hardwork, your resilience, your desire to always do the right thing especially when nobody is watching. The 10is Academy you know and love comes without judgement on how good or bad you are, we are not driven by public likes or looking over our shoulder to see what others do. 10is Academy is a space that is free of judgment -- to experiment, to explore, to reflect, to be bold, to be you. 10is Academy is a place for self-expression but also a community where everyone should feel safe. Our community is based on respect and understanding, while also celebrating the different cultures, perspectives and value that make us human. 

We also believe in the power of family: family that play together stay together. If you're a parent we believe you should also be playing with your child. If you don't feel you are not good enough we have lessons for you - we hope this is the year you’ll consider investing in yourself, your health and strengthen your bond with a wonderful community. It’s on us to give you a reason to get excited about becoming a player. We’re up to the task. And remember, nobody is judging how good you are.

2020 didn’t turn out how anyone planned, but one thing has stayed true. Tennis continues to thrive. Time and time again it has shown its power to keep people active, to keep them 'in touch' with their friends, and to inspire.

Thank you for showing us how resilient we are as a community. It is deeply humbling to see the small role 10is Academy has played in helping some of you get through the ups and downs this year. 

We will continue to be here for you. We hope to have many more years with you and to have the privilege to see the world through your eyes.

If you would like to share your story with us, please email us at admin@10is-academy.com