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When Tracey French decided to turn her love for tennis into a business, she wasn’t just building a facility — she was creating a community. After years of balancing family life and with a background in teaching, the idea of opening a tennis and pickleball club started as a personal dream. Now, just months after the doors opened, Ellington Racquet Club is not only providing a state-of-the-art facility, but also fostering an atmosphere of camaraderie, competition and fun.
It all began in 2020 when French enrolled in a professional tennis management certification program at Bridgewater State University. For her final class, she was tasked with creating a business plan.
“The research indicated a need for a facility in this area,” French explained.
But the path from concept to execution was anything but straightforward. The process of securing funding alone proved to be a major challenge.
“It took years to get a professional business plan. I presented the plan to many banks before I finally was offered a loan,” recalled French. “The amount of paperwork was overwhelming. Along the way there were many challenges… from obtaining the loan, to getting construction started in March when we had record amounts of rain and then unexpected code changes.”
Despite these hurdles, Ellington Racquet Club officially opened its doors in October 2024, offering dedicated courts for both tennis and pickleball, a rarity in the area.
“The biggest difference between Ellington Racquet Club and most others in the area are the dedicated tennis and pickleball courts,” explained French. “We don’t have lines on the tennis courts for pickleball. The pickleball courts stand alone and are available all day and evening — no need to share with the tennis players.”
The first weeks after the club opened were proven successful, with a good number of members joining and many clinics filled. Although the nicer weather in October and November kept players outside, French expects to see more people move inside during winter.
“My favorite moments are when people come in and comment on how beautiful the facility and courts are,” said French. “It is great to see all the hard work of building come together in a facility that people are happy to be in and enjoy playing at.”
With no formal business background, it was French’s love of tennis that truly drove the project.
“As my children grew up and began to move out on their own, I realized I wanted to do something for myself, create something my children could be proud of,” noted French. “I have played tennis for years. I coach the Ellington High School girl’s tennis team and just knew I wanted to do something in that field.”
The club’s dedicated staff come with a wide range of backgrounds. Ryan Foster, director of tennis, is a former collegiate tennis player with a strong work ethic who specializes in private lessons. Instructors Justin Frey, who has returned to teaching tennis after years in the corporate world, and Christian Kaverud, a University of St. Joseph’s tennis player who is training under Foster, both bring a love of the sport to their lessons. Joseph Sze, the main pickleball instructor, and Sergio Monteserin, another pickleball instructor, both have backgrounds in tennis and pickleball.
Looking ahead, French has a clear vision for the future of Ellington Racquet Club, one of camaraderie and building friendships.
“My goal is to grow the club to have numerous USTA teams and pickleball leagues where strong friendships develop alongside friendly rivalries. I’d like a place where members can come in knowing they can get a good workout with good friends any day of the week,” said French. “We are open and eager to have more players come in, play and discover what a great facility we have.”
From the outside, it may look like just another tennis and pickleball facility, but for French, Ellington Racquet Club is much more than that. It’s a place where players can come together to enjoy the game they love — and where friendships and community are built one swing at a time.
ELLINGTON RACQUET CLUB IS AT 55 LOWER BUTCHER RD. IN ELLINGTON. HOURS ARE 7 A.M. TO 10 P.M., DAILY. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE CLUB’S EVOLVING OFFERINGS, MEMBERSHIP AND MORE CAN BE FOUND ON ITS WEBSITE: ELLINGTONRACQUETCLUB.COM.
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