Writing from the U.S. Open of 2003, long-time Edhead
Penny reported seeing
a flyer distributed mentioning a "Stefan Edberg fantasy camp."
Subsequent enquires revealed that the camp was to take place
at Scottdale, Arizon.
In October 2003, this article appeared on the
Tennis Week site about the "fantasy camp":
... Stefan Edberg and Martina Hingis ... will work with rising pros Vera Zvonareva and Dinara Safina at the adidas player development camp, which will be staged at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort in the first week of December. At the conclusion of the player development week, Edberg will stay in Scottsdale to host the Stefan Edberg Fantasy Camp, December 5-7th. The fantasy camp offers two full days on court with Edberg, Shaughnessy and the internationally renowned ITUSA professional staff. This fantasy-filled weekend includes clinics, exhibitions and one on one interaction with the world’s best, along with a welcome reception breakfast each morning and a Saturday evening dinner.
"Bringing the Stefan Edbergs and Martina Hingis' of the world to aspiring players is what you need to do to show players the correct ways to train and practice," Font de Mora said. "It's a great asset for the kids to have role models like these champions to learn from. It's a very unique concept and we also have (Edberg's former coach) Tony Pickard coming. When I go to some tournaments and see the crowds decrease and the fan interest in tennis getting worse, I feel a responsibility to do something that is going to help make the sport better. And I really believe the concept we've created with the adidas player development program can help save tennis."
For a while, I was concerned that there may not be sufficient
interest for the camp, given the prevailing economic downturn.
But I needn't have worried: The camp was sold-out by November and
in December Stefan arrived to the camp.
Because of overriding personnal committments, I was not able to
attend the camp. Here are reports collected about the event.
