Maverick Genius of Mallorca:
Jofre Porta
Chris Lewit
Last month I wrote about my visit to Rafael Nadal's new tennis academy on Mallorca and my conversation with Toni Nadal. (Click Here.) But amazingly the new Nadal academy is not the first important academy on this paradise, an island with a population of less than 900,000.
An older much more established academy has actually been around for over 20 years and Mallorca's two most famous residents, Carlos Moya and Rafael Nadal both trained there before they were even teenagers.
Surprised? Never heard of it? It's called Global Tennis Team, and is headed by the maverick genius Jofre Porta.
On the same trip to Spain during which I visited the new Nadal facility, I had the good fortune of spending a few days at Global Tennis Team and with Porta himself, a silver-haired bright-eyed tennis guru. In Europe Porta is as well respected--if not as well known--as other Spanish legends such as Toni Nadal, Lluis Bruguera or William Pato Alvarez. (Click here for more on Pato.) (Click Here for more on Luis.)
Jofre's passion for tennis is infectious and he has dedicated his life to developing a method of training athletes, which he calls the Global System. A renegade and a free spirit, Jofre's teaching methods are creative and unconventional.
Yet he has had incredible success, having trained many of the top juniors in Spain as well as having a loyal following of international students, especially Russians and Eastern Europeans. He is a frequent speaker around the world at International Tennis Federation educational events.
Coach, educator, and philosopher, Jofre supports his theories with an eclectic range of sources, from classical literature to the latest sport and neurological science research. And he has results at the pinnacle of the game to back up his theories.
Porta has had the unique experience of training and assisting with the training of two #1 players in the world, in their formative years: Carlos Moya and Rafael Nadal. Jofre started working with Carlos Moya when he was under 10 years old and guided him through his early pro career.
Rafa also spent a year training at Global when he was under 12. Jofre then traveled with Toni and Rafa to local, regional, and international junior events. Any coach would be fabulously lucky to have the opportunity to help develop one world champion. It is remarkable that Jofre has trained two #1 players.
His experiences with Nadal and Moya have shaped and colored his philosophy and training system. Something magical happened in Mallorca and Jofre was both a creator of and witness to this magic.
Remarkable
I have visited academies all over the world and particularly in Spain, and Global Tennis is remarkable. I've never seen anything quite like it.
Jofre calls his academy a "doll house" compared to other academies. What he means by that is the scale is very small and the players are like a family. It's no factory.
The facilities are spartan and simple, with 5 pristine red clay courts, a small workout area and a dorm and a cafe onsite adjacent to the courts. There are no luxuries here like at Rafa's new academy---it's boot camp style.
Global System
The Global method is a holistic approach that includes all aspects of a player's development--the technical and tactical, mental and emotional, and physical.
Jofre is genuinely concerned about the well-being of his players--not only preparing them for high level tennis, but also for life. His dedication and passion are incredible.
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