by Debbie A. Crawford, MA, NCC
June, 05

Tennis is considered to be a lifetime sport, one that can be learned at a very young age and played well into the later years of life. For Berhe Serekeberhan, tennis has been his life, a thread he shares with generations of his family. And now he is taking his passion for tennis and opening it up to a rapidly growing community.

In February 2004, Berhe broke ground for Phase I of Blakeney Racquet Club on Rea Road in Charlotte and, in early September, the first players took to the court.

The club currently features 3 American clay courts, easy on the body and cool in the summer, and 3 asphalt courts, favored by kids and juniors for their speed of play. Groundbreaking is slated for July 1st for Phase II, which includes 3 fully ventilated, covered indoor courts, to enable year-round play regardless of temperature or weather conditions.

The planning doesn’t end there. Berhe will also begin development of the clubhouse facility which will include a complete fitness center with cardio and nautilus equipment, a pro-shop, and two racquetball courts, a difficult find in Charlotte. In addition, Berhe’s wife, Eden, a chiropractor, will open offices within the clubhouse to serve both members and non-members.

And for the true tennis enthusiast, Berhe will be developing the first red clay courts in North Carolina. This elite surface, made of brick dust, is used throughout Europe and perhaps most recognizable from the French Open.

Berhe is not only the owner and visionary for this project. He comes from a family rich in the love of the game. One of 12 children, he was raised in Eritrea on the northeast coast of Africa, where he spent his youth training and competing as part of the national team. His father was a respected tennis coach and instilled this in all his children. In fact, Berhe’s father still plays tennis today, at age 86, and all 8 of his brothers teach tennis in Sweden.

Berhe, who is fluent in 4 languages, came to the US in 1989 at age 17 at the invitation of a family who used to work for the United Nations, following a period of civil war in his country. He coached others and competed in tournaments, including the Davis Cup, all around the country,. He was granted a full scholarship to Baylor and graduated in 1995 with a BS in Health.

Shortly after graduation, Berhe was hired as Head Tennis Pro at the exclusive Van Der Meer Tennis Center in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, where he coached and traveled with his players to all the major tournaments. After several years with Van Der Meer, Berhe began looking for a place to grow.

That place was Charlotte and in 2001 planning began for what is now Blakeney Racquet Club. And much like his own experience of growing in a tennis family, Berhe’s vision includes a family atmosphere, getting to know his members personally, investing fully in each person, and creating a sense of community. In fact, swing by Blakeney any Friday night and you’ll find Berhe, his wife, his staff and a large group of members enjoying their weekly social get-together.

So, what does Blakeney Racquet Club have to offer? Aside from an expanding state-of-the-art facility and personal atmosphere, you will find private instruction for individuals and groups, beginner adult clinics, day-time women’s drill sessions, after work clinics, and a wide variety of other adult clinics at convenient times. Juniors can engage in tournament training, after school clinics, introductory lessons (for age 8 and up), future stars (for ages 4-7), travel to out of town tournaments and summer camps.

Summer Tennis Camps begin in June and run through August with limited space to allow for a 5:1 student to teacher ratio. Whether your child is a novice needing to learn technique, footwork and the basics or if he/she is a high school or USTA tournament player wanting to focus on high intensity drills, strategy, and match play, Blakeney Racquet Club offers a summer tennis camp with expert coaching at a convenient time to meet their needs.

“Don’t be afraid to give it a try,” is the message Berhe hopes to get out there. If you are new to tennis, his goal is to introduce the game and hopefully you will discover the benefits of a life long exercise option, stress relief and the fun of challenging yourself to something new.
Berhe and his wife are expecting their first baby in September. As he continues to grow Blakeney Racquet Club and experiences the growth of a new generation in his own family, he revels in the opportunity to meet new people, to help them enjoy tennis as a family, and reflects on his own appreciation for what he has accomplished.

Blackeney Racquet Club is located at 10607 Rea Road, Charlotte, NC 28277. Call 704-841-PLAY (7529) or go on-line at www.brccharlotte.com.