Spain has a long tradition of tennis stars; Rafael Nadal being the most recent example. In Catalonia, the Federació Catalana de Tennis (FCT - www.fctennis.cat) has worked hard to change perceptions of tennis as an elite sport. They have tried to encourage universal access with initiatives like tennis sessions in local schools. With 275 courts in the city, you won’t have trouble finding a place to play. Many sports complexes have courts, for example, Europolis Health Club (Travessera de les Corts, 252-254).

The best time to play is on Sunday afternoons, when Catalan families are at the beach or tucking into a big family lunch. Some clubs, like Centre Municipal de Tennis Vall d’Hebron, even offer reduced rates after 15:00 on Sundays. At normal times, non-members should expect to pay €13-20 for one hour on court. Bear in mind though, that prices vary between clubs and some are members only.
Most clubs offer private and group lessons with qualified coaches. For budding young professionals in-the-making, the prestigious tennis academy Elitennis (www.elitennis.com), in nearby Castelldefels, runs summer camps and regular training programs.