From Realtà Mapei n° 38 - 7/2/2024

Tennis Courts’ Transformation with MAPEI’s Sports Solutions

Historic legacy, modern excellence: The Saddlebrook Tennis Academy upgrade
Overview: Saddlebrook Tennis Academy is an historic tennis academy, home to training for tennis greats Monica Seles, Pete Sampras and Jennifer Capriati among other Association of Tennis Professionals and Women’s Tennis Association members. Located just outside Tampa, Florida, Saddlebrook is among the best, most high-profile tennis academies not only in Florida, but also in the world, attracting and competing for top-notch coaches and athletes. However, times change and technology, including sports technology, continually improves. To further raise the bar on competing tennis academies, Saddlebrook decided to “refresh” its historic grounds, including the transformation of the tennis courts using the latest building innovations in the sports industry. The owners turned to MAPEI’s Sports-Flooring Group and the Mapecoat TNS Reinforced system for help with the transformation.
Saddlebrook Tennis Academy

A legacy of champions: Saddlebrook Tennis Academy

Founded in 1981, Saddlebrook Tennis Academy has played a significant role in the development of numerous ATP and WTA professionals. Offering private and group training for juniors and adults, the academy is renowned for its adherence to the “Hopman Method,” a tennis skill set immortalized by Harry Hopman, the highly successful Davis Cup captain and founder of the Harry Hopman Academy.

Despite the changing times, Saddlebrook’s commitment to excellence remains unwavering. The decision to refresh its historic grounds, especially the tennis courts, is a testament to the academy’s dedication to providing world-class facilities for the next generation of tennis stars.

The challenge: Restoring history amidst nature’s forces

The Saddlebrook courts had witnessed the triumphs and challenges of tennis greats for decades. However, exposure to Florida’s relentless elements – extreme sun, high humidity, wind and rain – had taken a toll on the surfaces. In addition to the natural wear and tear from usage, tree-root damage and drainage issues had emerged over time, necessitating a comprehensive restoration.

The project not only aimed at resurfacing but also included essential repairs to ensure the longevity and functionality of the courts. Surface preparation was a crucial step, addressing the concrete substrate with Planitop 200 Gray and Mapeflex P1 FT for efficient repair and preparation.

MAPEI’s sports solutions: Elevating excellence

To undertake this ambitious project, Saddlebrook Tennis Academy turned to MAPEI’s Sports-Flooring Group, a leader in innovative solutions for sports surfaces. MAPEI’s cutting-edge technology and commitment to quality made them the ideal partner for the task.

Working with three- to four-men teams, the crew from Sportsline Inc. began surface preparation of the concrete courts, cleaning them and removing any debris. Joints and any cracks were chased and cleaned. Then, Planitop 200 Gray and Mapeflex P1 FT were applied.

  • Planitop 200 Gray: A high-performance, fast-setting repair mortar, Planitop 200 Gray was used to address the concrete substrate’s imperfections and ensure a smooth, durable surface for the subsequent layers.
  • Mapeflex P1 FT: This flexible polyurethane sealant played a crucial role in addressing joint and crack repairs, ensuring long-term durability and resistance to environmental stressors.

 

Following the surface preparation, the Sportsline crew began the general repair and resurfacing using MAPEI’s Mapecoat TNS Reinforced system. Consisting of premium acrylic binders, coatings and fiberglass mesh, the Mapecoat TNS Reinforced system was employed to provide a resilient and high-performance surface for the Saddlebrook courts. This system offers excellent player comfort, optimal ball response and durability, making it the preferred choice for top-tier tennis facilities.

A blend of tradition and innovation

The meticulous application of MAPEI’s sports solutions has resulted in a revitalized Saddlebrook Tennis Academy. The upgraded courts seamlessly blend the historic legacy of champions with modern excellence, providing a state-of-the-art environment for athletes to hone their skills.

The successful transformation of Saddlebrook Tennis Academy’s courts stands as a testament to the power of collaboration between industry leaders. By choosing MAPEI’s Sports-Flooring Group and leveraging the Mapecoat TNS Reinforced system, Saddlebrook has not only preserved its historic legacy but has also embraced the future of tennis infrastructure.

TECHNICAL DATA
The Saddlebrook Tennis Academy at the Saddlebrook Resort Tampa  – Wesley Chapel (Tampa), Florida, USA
Project category: Sports Facilities
Year of construction: 1981
Year of MAPEI involvement: 2022
MAPEI coordinator: Darren Clare
Project owner: Saddlebrook Tennis Academy
General contractor: Sportsline Inc.
Installer: Sportsline Inc.
Project size: 21,000 sq. ft. (1 951 m2)
Challenges: The historic building featured “historic” bathroom subfloors that had seen better days. MAPEI’s self-leveling underlayment and primer, however, made the application of the heating system easy. And, the system’s membrane added a layer of uncoupling, crack isolation and waterproofing to the floors, as well as provided a locking grid for the heating cables.
MAPEI products: Mapecoat TNS Base Coat Binder Black, Mapecoat TNS Binder, Mapecoat TNS Binder NY Blue, Mapecoat TNS Finish 1 London Green, Mapecoat TNS Finish 1 NY Blue, Mapecoat TNS Line Seal, Mapecoat TNS Line Tex, Mapeflex P1 FT, Mapenet Reinforced, Planitop 200 Gray

Products mentioned in the article

Mapecoat TNS Base Coat Binder [NA]
Mapecoat TNS Base Coat Binder [NA]
Fast-Set, Acrylic, Basecoat Binder Mapecoat TNS Base Coat Binder [NA] is a flexible, fast-set, 100%-acrylic latex compound for indoor and…
Mapecoat TNS Binder [NA]
Mapecoat TNS Binder [NA]
Premium, Acrylic Color Coating Mapecoat TNS Binder [NA] is a 100%-acrylic latex compound that can be mixed with various sands to meet a…
Mapecoat TNS Line Seal
Mapecoat TNS Line Seal
Premium, Acrylic, Line Paint Sealant Mapecoat TNS Line Seal is a premium, acrylic, transparent sealant for the edges of the masking tape…
Mapecoat TNS Line Tex
Mapecoat TNS Line Tex
Premium, Acrylic Line Paint Fortified with Fine Sand Mapecoat TNS Line Tex is a premium, acrylic paint fortified with fine sand for marking…
Mapeflex P1 FT
Mapeflex P1 FT
One-Component, Nonsag, Elastomeric Polyurethane Sealant Mapeflex P1 FT is a high-performance, one-component, fast-track, elastomeric,…
Planitop 200
Planitop 200
Water-Repellent Skimcoating Mortar for Concrete and Glass/Porcelain Mosaics Planitop 200 is a water-repellent skimcoating mortar designed…

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