Meet The Founders: How Marc & Isabella Built Ten Twenty Into Voula's Ultimate Lifestyle Destination

We sat down with husband and wife Marc and Isabella, the owners and managing partners of Ten Twenty Club in Voula. This power duo is no stranger to creating high-vibe spaces; Isabella is also the visionary behind La Linda, the South American bakery that has become as famous for its meticulous croissant lamination and wellness-boosting smoothies as it has for its aesthetic charm.

Nestled on the sun-drenched Athenian Riviera, Ten Twenty Club is a premier racquet and wellness destination that reimagines the classic country club for a modern, active community. Blending high-performance sports with holistic recovery and a vibrant social atmosphere, the club offers an unparalleled experience just steps from the beach.

Isabella: I am originally Brazilian-Lebanese. My father lived here in Greece for many years. He’s Lebanese, but he absolutely fell in love with this country. He was the one who introduced it to us, and we loved it just as much. Eventually, we thought, "Why not give it a try?"

Marc: On my side, funny enough, my grandmother was actually born here. I didn’t discover Greece through her, though, as she moved to Lebanon where she married my grandfather. But we’ve been visiting for ten years, mainly because Isabella’s father retired here, and we fell in love. I always wanted to do something in Greece, especially since we have a large circle of Greek and Lebanese friends living here. After living in Qatar, when we decided it was time to move back to Europe, Greece was the first country that crossed our minds.

Marc: We were doing our own separate things while living in Qatar. Isabella was a consultant in the F&B industry, helping clients open new concepts, and I was in the sports industry. While in Qatar, I saw a massive opportunity in Padel and opened a small club there. After four years, we felt we’d had our fill of life in Qatar and wanted to return to Europe, but we knew we needed a strong idea.

Isabella already had her brand, La Linda, and we thought about opening that here. But I wanted to stay in sports, so I told Bella, "Why don’t we join forces?". We wanted to create a racquet club that goes beyond just sports, incorporating hospitality, a movement studio, and a strong community aspect. My experience taught me that for a club to succeed long-term, the hospitality side and the community vibe are just as important as the courts. So, we teamed up: Isabella handles the F&B and the aesthetics, and I handle the sports side.

Marc: I’ll let Isabella answer that; she’s the expert here!

Isabella: I handle the marketing, communications, and aesthetics. "Ten Twenty" actually refers to the size of a Padel court, 10 by 20 meters. But it’s also an angel number, which signifies that you are on the right path. It represents a good environment and positive vibes, which is exactly what we wanted to create: a place for like-minded people to connect, support one another, and learn from each other. That’s how Ten Twenty came together.

Marc: Absolutely. Because we have La Linda as our partner in the club, we knew we could offer a beautiful environment even for non-players. Our ultimate goal is to encourage people who might not know much about Padel or Pickleball to feel welcome. Eventually, they might feel inspired to try it out and join the lifestyle. That’s why we love this beachside location. You can work here, connect your professional life with a training session, eat well, do some recovery, and then end your day with a swim in the sea. It’s about enjoying life.

Isabella: We didn’t want it to be just for the athletes. I remember when Marc used to play Padel elsewhere, I would drop him off and leave, or wait in the car, because the clubs didn't feel inviting. We wanted to build a space where the whole family could come. You can watch the game, hang out in the garden, try a sport, or just eat. We wanted something for everyone.

Marc: It checked almost every box. Economically, the timing was right, the weather is perfect, and the cost of living was attractive compared to trying to launch a club in somewhere like London. Greece naturally possesses the ingredients for the lifestyle we wanted to promote: healthy food, nature, and the ability to swim nearly all year round.

Three years ago, when we were researching, we felt people were hungry for international concepts that moved beyond the typical taverna. We turned out to be right; La Linda has been very successful, and the club is doing great. Greece feels like an "emerging market" within Europe. It’s an amazing place to be ahead of the game, especially with so many international people moving here.

Isabella: It’s the quality of life that sets it apart. Especially here in the South, you have the taste of city life, but you’re basically living on an island. Greeks prioritize family, weekends, and holidays, those things actually mean something here. We aren’t on this planet for very long, and we need to make the most of it. The food, the weather, and that mindset make all the difference.

Marc: It’s been very interesting! We didn't just pick Pickleball out of nowhere. We knew it was huge in the US and Australia, and since Americans are a top tourist demographic here, we knew we could cater to them. Also, logistically, we had a corner of the space that was too small for Tennis or Padel, so we dedicated it to Pickleball and mini-tennis for kids. It started with just 10 people—mostly expats or tourists—and now we have over 100 people in our local Pickleball community.

Marc: For us, the experience begins before you even arrive; it starts with a feeling of inspiration from our social media and website. Once you step inside, our team will already know your name; we prioritize that personal connection. A typical day might start with an early tennis or padel lesson, followed by a refreshing shower in our facilities. Then, you grab a healthy brunch and settle into the garden or clubhouse to get some work done. In the afternoon, there's a "happy hour" vibe where friends and families gather. 

Isabella: On weekends, it’s even more vibrant with themed community events, like our Lebanese lunches or Brazilian carnivals, that celebrate our diverse cultures. It’s a place where you can find a purpose for every hour of the day.

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Curious about what a typical day at Ten Twenty is really like? We recently spent a day there ourselves and documented the experience in this article. 

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Marc: We don’t actually try to be "exclusive." We just avoid aggressive mass marketing. We prefer to grow organically so we can get to know our customers and build a community of like-minded people. If you keep the environment positive and grow naturally, you attract the right crowd that respects the space.

Isabella: Well, we are the perfect space for mothers. I work out two or three times a week and my baby is right there in the gym with me. We want women to feel they can bring their kids. We have a Kids’ Academy for tennis and padel, and on weekends we have gymnastics and social programs for children.

We also do a lot for women specifically. Every Thursday, we have a group called "Women of Ten Twenty." They play Padel for an hour in a social format with a coach—since many have never played before—then we have a smoothie together and head to the beach. I started this because Padel can be very male-dominated and intimidating for women. Interestingly, almost 100% of the women who attend are expats! It’s open to everyone, not just members.

Isabella: We really wanted to make fitness accessible to everyone, not just the players. Our gym focuses on functional movement with high-quality, non-electric equipment like dumbbells, kettlebells, and resistance ropes. We also have an outdoor sauna and ice baths for that essential post-workout recovery. 

Marc: Exactly. Most importantly, we aren't a "members-only" fortress; while memberships are offered and come with great benefits, the club is not member-exclusive at all. The gym, the recovery area, and the café are open to everyone at an affordable price point. We have coaches available for everything, and people are always welcome to walk in. If there isn’t a class in session, the gym space is open for you to use. We’re open from 8:00 AM to midnight, so you can truly walk in anytime. If a coach happens to be busy for an hour or two, you can just grab a coffee at La Linda and soak in the garden atmosphere while you wait. We never want anyone to feel like they have to run out; we want you to stay and enjoy the space.

Marc: Logistically, the space is large enough to accommodate both. Tourists usually want to play at 10:00 or 11:00 AM while locals are at work. By the time locals finish work, the tourists are often at the beach or at dinner. There’s also a great synergy. Tomorrow, for example, we have a group of six French guys coming for a Padel retreat. A local who spends time here gets to meet them, hear their stories, and maybe make a new international friend. It’s a very nice synergy.

Isabella: In two words: Happy Place. I want them to feel inspired and healthy. Life can be very stressful, and I want this to be where people disconnect and recharge.

Marc: Exactly! But I also want them to feel a sense of accomplishment. We take the sports side very seriously. I don’t want you to just come for the social aspect; I want our coaches to help you genuinely improve your game. It’s that mix of a "happy lifestyle" and the thrill of personal progress! 

A huge thank you to Isabella and Marc for welcoming us into their beautiful space. We left feeling inspired by the energy they’ve built in Voula and are already looking forward to our next visit!