Bernardo Munk, UC Berkeley D1 college tennis player, wearing Valldoreix, on one of the craziest tennis courts in the world. Tennis on sand, on a beach.
If you’ve never heard of it, Playa Luanco is a small beach in Asturias, Spain, that transforms into a tennis court for just a few days each summer. Matches are only played when the tide goes down.
Even after the court is prepared, it’s still a really tricky surface. The sand shifts with every step, the bounce changes from one shot to the next, and the sea breeze is a constant challenge. But that’s exactly what makes this place special.
Berni was part of the same tournament as Pedro Cachin (former ATP #48), Benoît Paire (former #18), Richard Gasquet (former #7), and Dominic Thiem (2020 US Open Champion, former ATP #3). It’s also a court where Spanish tennis legends like Carlos Moyá, Juan Carlos Ferrero, and David Ferrer have played.
Berni had an incredible experience facing Pedro Cachin in this truly unique setting. It’s raw, unpredictable, and unlike any other tennis experience in the world.
Families, friends, and locals gather by the shore, filling the stands built right on the sand. You hear the waves between points, while watching world-class tennis players compete. It’s a surreal mix of peace and competition.
Seeing Berni compete here, representing Valldoreix, was something special, because this kind of stage represents what Valldoreix stands for: playing for the love of the game, adapting to whatever comes, and sharing it with a community that lives and breathes tennis.