With Wimbledon upon us, former tennis pro ANNABEL CROFT heads to Cyprus and discovers a perfect active family getaway

SOMETHING had been telling me to go to Cyprus for a long time. At school I had a friend who used to go on holiday there every year and she would come back looking so brown and relaxed, telling us what a good time she'd had.

Then there is Cypriot tennis player Marcos Baghdatis, whom I've interviewed several times for TV. He is so passionate about his homeland and has recently returned to train there after years in France. Finally, Steve Cockell, the pro who runs my Annabel Croft Tennis Academy in Kingston upon Thames, went to Cyprus and came back raving about it. I didn't need any further persuasion.

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My husband Mel and I decided to give it a try so we booked into the resort where Steve trained, Aphrodite Hills, just outside Paphos. Sadly, our youngest Lily, who is eight, had to compete in a gym competition and couldn't join us so Mel and I set off with Amber, 15, and 14-year-old Charlie. Aphrodite Hills nestles in verdant hills that punctuate an otherwise barren, rocky landscape.

There are panoramic views of the Mediterranean from most of the traditionally styled suites dotted across beautifully manicured grounds. Many face the impressive 18-hole golf course and some have their own pools.

The hub of the resort is the enormous swimming pool which features a gently shelving edge for toddlers and plenty of sunloungers from which mums and dads can keep a close eye on their little ones. There is a choice of staying in either a self-contained villa or in the hotel itself. We chose the latter. Our two connecting rooms were modern and we had a huge balcony with stunning views.

Our bathroom was so big I could have stayed in it forever.

As far as activities are concerned Mel is a former international yachtsman and Charlie is a very keen golfer who, despite his age, has a handicap of four. Then of course there is my love of tennis and Aphrodite Hills gave us all the chance to do what we adore most. The resort offers a whole range of sports and activities with facilities so excellent that professional teams come to train here.

There are heaps of things to do from mountain biking, jogging and walking to nature trails and horse riding.

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We quickly settled into a rhythm. The boys would play some golf or we would head to the nine-court tennis academy, which I loved. The pros are amazing, the kind of people I'd have teach at my academy but also the kind of people I would like to teach my children: young, enthusiastic and with great energy levels.

They took me through a new system they use called Mental Match Play that they are very enthusiastic about.

Like any other sport tennis is part psychological and Mental Match Play is designed to help trick the brain. Instead of panicking about your swing you start to count as the ball bounces. This helps you divert your attention from panicking about the swing until it comes naturally. I tried it and it seems to work - the guys told me it is a great technique for beginners.

In the afternoon we'd spend time lazy-lunching around the hotel's Village Square which has some great restaurants, including a sushi bar, fish restaurant and fabulous traditional Greek taverna called Pithari. Then it was off to the pool to relax with a book or to help Amber revise for her GCSEs.

A huge change for me was visiting the Retreat Spa. I'm really not a spa person but this is the most beautiful I have ever seen.

It has a Greco-Roman theme with stone floors and columns and is decorated in calming creams.

I had a balancing massage called Li' Tya Kodo and it was the best I've tried. If I wasn't going to feel relaxed after that I never would.

My biggest regret is that we did not get out of the resort. We wanted to swim at the nearby beaches, The Cove and Zias Beach Club, both of which are accessible by a short shuttle bus ride. However we had such fun we decided to stay in the resort. Back home we normally spend so much time running around the chance to unwind was too good to miss.

I'd love to spend more time at Aphrodite Hills and I'm toying with doing a link with their academies.

It would be great to take some of our children and parents there.

I am into holistic medicine and homeopathy so it would be a dream to combine tennis in the morning with yoga and spa in the afternoon.

It would be a perfect family break at this perfect venue.

Kuoni (01306 747008/www.kuoni.co.uk) offers seven nights at Aphrodite Hills from £960pp (two sharing), B&B. Price includes return BA flights from Gatwick and private transfers. Cyprus Tourism Organisation: 0207 569 8800/www.visitcyprus.com