Where is the best tennis city in the world?

srv vlly

Semi-Pro
Somewhere with plenty of tennis courts, good weather, and a wide range of skill level. Or maybe there is other criteria. You decide.

Let's try to figure out where the best tennis city in the world is.

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Fedinkum

Legend
Not a world traveler but Melbourne is really a great tennis city. So many suburban courts and tennis clubs. The city itself is beautiful, the people are wonderful, the food culture is diverse, the weather is tennis friendly (apart from the unpredictable rain). All year round tennis is given. I loved Melbourne, I wish I could move there.

And of course, home of the Australian Open, so you get to see the world best players.
 
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srv vlly

Semi-Pro
Not a world traveler but Melbourne is really a great tennis city. So many suburban courts and tennis clubs. The city itself is beautiful, the people are wonderful, the food culture is diverse, the weather is tennis friendly (apart from the unpredictable rain). All year round tennis is given. I loved Melbourne, I wish I could move there.

And of course, home of the Australian Open, so you get to see the world best players.
I have a buddy who lived in Melbourne for a few years. He always said there was good tennis down there. I've never been there myself, but really want to check out the Aus open.

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travlerajm

Talk Tennis Guru
The beautiful thing about tennis is that it is such an international sport. I travel all around the world and find great tennis opportunities on all continents. Adjusting to unique local conditions — court surface, ball type, climate, altitude, regional style of opponent —is part of the fun!
 

WildVolley

Legend
Used to be the only city in the world with tennis courts on top of the convention center!

What happened to them?

Balboa park has one of the best public park clubs in the world. San Diego has a better climate than Atlanta for tennis. You can play outdoors year round in comfort in San Diego.

The only problems with San Diego is that I don't think many grass courts are available (or red clay). And ... the real estate prices are outrageously expensive.
 

travlerajm

Talk Tennis Guru
What happened to them?

Balboa park has one of the best public park clubs in the world. San Diego has a better climate than Atlanta for tennis. You can play outdoors year round in comfort in San Diego.

The only problems with San Diego is that I don't think many grass courts are available (or red clay). And ... the real estate prices are outrageously expensive.
I used to play on those convention center courts, which belonged to the Marriott, when I visited. There were both clay and hard. Not sure why they closed them? Maybe the locals know?

I had a chance to play at Balboa with @navigator on my last visit a couple years ago. Nice atmosphere there.
 

MasterZeb

Hall of Fame
Way too expensive and the weather makes it tough.
With the weather, every single indoor court facility I’ve been to has been fantastic. Plus there’s the grass courts. When the weathers good, it’s perfect. When it’s not, go indoors. Money is a fair issue though. Very expensive.
 

Fedinkum

Legend
I have a buddy who lived in Melbourne for a few years. He always said there was good tennis down there. I've never been there myself, but really want to check out the Aus open.

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Will give you a tip: get there a week earlier, and you can even attend the qualifier matches for free and possibly catch some big names practising in the centre court without the crowd!
 
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MasterZeb

Hall of Fame
I think the weather stops me from thinking of London as a great tennis city. I'm sure there are some fantastic clubs, but for me, the best tennis city would allow for outdoor play most of the year.

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Fair enough. I love indoors so no issue for me. For me, the perfect city weather would have to hover around 15 degrees for a good portion of the year, and never rain. Is there any such place?
 

srv vlly

Semi-Pro
Fair enough. I love indoors so no issue for me. For me, the perfect city weather would have to hover around 15 degrees for a good portion of the year, and never rain. Is there any such place?
From my experience, that might be San Diego. I'm not sure how the tennis community is, but the weather is damn near perfect!

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bobleenov1963

Hall of Fame
The best place for outdoor tennis is located in Bariloche Argentina between October and late March, bar none. The food, the weather, the women and tennis & golf. The best place to be. Arelaquen polo club & golf club in Bariloche has two tennis courts that are surrounded by mountain and the view is just unbelievable. It is also the best time to be in Argentina because inflation is rampant there. The US dollar can go a very long way.
 

srv vlly

Semi-Pro
In the US, I think you have to consider Atlanta based on the number of courts, temperate climate and the ALTA tennis scene.
I have heard many great things about the tennis scene in Atlanta. In addition, Atlanta has an ATP 250 tournament, college tennis at GA Tech. Good choice for sure.

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Keflex

New User
In the US, I think you have to consider Atlanta based on the number of courts, temperate climate and the ALTA tennis scene.

+1

ALTA has 80,000 players year round. Also there are 3 other active leagues: USTA, T2 and Ultimate. Very easy to find people and/or teams to play with. Atlanta is just lucky to have so many courts. I'd say at least 50% of neighborhoods and apartment complexes have courts. Then you have numerous public tennis parks/facilities and then the private clubs. Playing ALTA in winter is cold, but most people still play.
 

Keflex

New User
I heard it's too popular, can't get a court easily

You're right some places it can be very hard to get an early evening court or mornings on the weekends unless you're able to reserve. The park closest to me will let you make reservations the day before starting at 6am. Though if I don't call by 6:15 they are all usually taken already.
 

travlerajm

Talk Tennis Guru
The best place for outdoor tennis is located in Bariloche Argentina between October and late March, bar none. The food, the weather, the women and tennis & golf. The best place to be. Arelaquen polo club & golf club in Bariloche has two tennis courts that are surrounded by mountain and the view is just unbelievable. It is also the best time to be in Argentina because inflation is rampant there. The US dollar can go a very long way.
I did some horseback riding there, but didn’t get to the tennis courts.
 

bobleenov1963

Hall of Fame
I did some horseback riding there, but didn’t get to the tennis courts.

When were you there? I've been to many places around the world and I have to say Bariloche is in my top 3. Did you also visit and stay at the Llao Llao hotel in Bariloche? The view there is unlike anything I've ever seen in my life. The women there are absolutely beautiful and educated too. My son absolutely loves Bariloche. He is supposed to go back there soon, as soon as covid-19 is under control, and this time he is much better prepared. He can speak Spanish, know how to do the tango and he will bring his Martin D-42 guitar with him. He will stay at the Arelauquen polo club. Bariloche is like a hidden gem of South America.
 

travlerajm

Talk Tennis Guru
When were you there? I've been to many places around the world and I have to say Bariloche is in my top 3. Did you also visit and stay at the Llao Llao hotel in Bariloche? The view there is unlike anything I've ever seen in my life. The women there are absolutely beautiful and educated too. My son absolutely loves Bariloche. He is supposed to go back there soon, as soon as covid-19 is under control, and this time he is much better prepared. He can speak Spanish, know how to do the tango and he will bring his Martin D-42 guitar with him. He will stay at the Arelauquen polo club. Bariloche is like a hidden gem of South America.
I visited in 2013. I used to go to BA for business a lot, and I always brought the wife and did a side trip each time. That time, we flew to peninsula Valdez to check out the wildlife, but after a couple of days there, we spontaneously roadtripped across the desert toward the Andes. We ended up at Bariloche. And yes, we stayed at Llao Llao.

Last year, I was stationed in South America for work for most of the year. And I can say that just about every city in South America is a terrific tennis city. I’ve played tennis in BA, Mendoza, Santiago, Asuncion, Bogota, Medellin, Guayaquil, and Santa Cruz. Would of played tennis in Florianopolis too if I wasn’t so busy playing tourist.
 

bobleenov1963

Hall of Fame
Is the Martin-42 better than the Esteban Master Class Guitar?

@onehandbh: do you play tennis? do you play tennis with a $200 racquet stick from tenniswarehouse or a $10 racquet stick from Walmart? How can compare that piece of junk to a Martin D-42? Martin D-42 is a dream guitar for many professional musicians.
 

onehandbh

G.O.A.T.
@onehandbh: do you play tennis? do you play tennis with a $200 racquet stick from tenniswarehouse or a $10 racquet stick from Walmart? How can compare that piece of junk to a Martin D-42? Martin D-42 is a dream guitar for many professional musicians.
Have you seen the infomercial with Estaban? He is supposedly a legendary guitar player. Surely, a guitar he endorses must be amazing.
 

tonylg

Legend
Not a world traveler but Melbourne is really a great tennis city. So many suburban courts and tennis clubs. The city itself is beautiful, the people are wonderful, the food culture is diverse, the weather is tennis friendly (apart from the unpredictable rain). All year round tennis is given. I loved Melbourne, I wish I could move there.

And of course, home of the Australian Open, so you get to see the world best players.

I love the tennis culture and facilities in Melbourne, but the weather is truly sh1t. Winter is too cold and when the wind is out of the north, summer can get uncomfortable too. Wind is often a problem and as the saying goes, "If you don't like the weather in Melbourne, just wait a few minutes". I played matches there where I swear the season has changed at least 3 times.

Brisbane and to a lesser extent Sydney are far better when it comes to weather, but lack decent facilities .. particularly grass courts.
 

bobleenov1963

Hall of Fame
Have you seen the infomercial with Estaban? He is supposedly a legendary guitar player. Surely, a guitar he endorses must be amazing.

infomercial... that's what it is. John Mayer and Eric Clapton perform on the Martin D-42. To an amateur like my son, the D-42 sound really amazing. To legends like John Mayer and Eric Clapton, it sound legendary. Personally, I wouldn't want to play on cheap guitar :-(
 

Rosstour

G.O.A.T.
I'm thinking the answer lies in availability + weather.

My little pocket of VA is great, but I would think that somewhere like Hilton Head or Ft Myers beach would be best. Play year-round and everywhere you can throw a ball, you will hit a court.
 

Fedinkum

Legend
I love the tennis culture and facilities in Melbourne, but the weather is truly sh1t. Winter is too cold and when the wind is out of the north, summer can get uncomfortable too. Wind is often a problem and as the saying goes, "If you don't like the weather in Melbourne, just wait a few minutes". I played matches there where I swear the season has changed at least 3 times.

Brisbane and to a lesser extent Sydney are far better when it comes to weather, but lack decent facilities .. particularly grass courts.
Yes, the quick temper weather and the arctic wind during winter are the only draw back for me. But the Melbourne legging scenes during those chilly days are certainly a bonus:)

I like Brisbane as well, was there for two years. Everything within the 20km city radius are glorious. Your river scenes are nicer and much more livelier than our Sydney harbour (personal opinion of course).

My only problem with Brisbane was the heat and the extent of it. For the few summer months, you really feel the oven heat above your head and I couldn’t go outside at all. I couldn’t imagine playing tennis during that few months.

Having said that, the Brisbane Open is a gem. You guys got much better players than Sydney but I think the ATP Cup has changed that pre-AO dynamic now. I love the Brisbane International, you can get really close to the players.
 

tonylg

Legend
Yes, the quick temper weather and the arctic wind during winter are the only draw back for me. But the Melbourne legging scenes during those chilly days are certainly a bonus:)

I like Brisbane as well, was there for two years. Everything within the 20km city radius are glorious. Your river scenes are nicer and much more livelier than our Sydney harbour (personal opinion of course).

My only problem with Brisbane was the heat and the extent of it. For the few summer months, you really feel the oven heat above your head and I couldn’t go outside at all. I couldn’t imagine playing tennis during that few months.

Having said that, the Brisbane Open is a gem. You guys got much better players than Sydney but I think the ATP Cup has changed that pre-AO dynamic now. I love the Brisbane International, you can get really close to the players.

LOL .. I can't play at night in Brisbane now. It's just too cold. In fact I'm just negotiating with a mate to start at 3pm rather than 4 today to avoid playing after the sun goes down. Summer is fine, day or night.

Yes, the Brisbane International was a great tournament. Women's is still on and we went this year. I do think the ATP Cup has huge potential though.

Love Sydney Harbour (lived in North Sydney for a while, then Harbord), but again .. it's just too cold in winter and I don't feel like Sydney has the same tennis culture as Brisbane does.
 

LaZeR

Professional
In the US, I think you have to consider Atlanta based on the number of courts, temperate climate and the ALTA tennis scene.
ALTA has 80,000 players year round. Also there are 3 other active leagues: USTA, T2 and Ultimate. Very easy to find people and/or teams to play with. Atlanta is just lucky to have so many courts. I'd say at least 50% of neighborhoods and apartment complexes have courts. Then you have numerous public tennis parks/facilities and then the private clubs. Playing ALTA in winter is cold, but most people still play.
Based on experience: 1) agree with the Atlanta, GA tennis scene, 2) Los Angeles, CA is great coz not only can you find players every day there's tons of free public courts in great condition with night lights, and 3) Dallas, TX also is pretty good - courts get packed - and less rednecks than most of Texas.

Just wanna comment that OPPOSITE to all of the above Tampa, FL friggin SUX for tennis.

OK so what's the final verdict - is Atlanta the WINNER??
 
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onehandbh

G.O.A.T.
infomercial... that's what it is. John Mayer and Eric Clapton perform on the Martin D-42. To an amateur like my son, the D-42 sound really amazing. To legends like John Mayer and Eric Clapton, it sound legendary. Personally, I wouldn't want to play on cheap guitar :-(
I’ve been messing with you:-D

I’ve never bought any junk from an infomercial, and know very little about guitars but looked up the D-42 and read it was supposed be a famous guitar.

I just started playing a month or so ago for fun using a friend’s guitar. I’m a total novice and it probably does not make that much of a difference for a beginner, but somehow I feel like learning on a guitar with a neck less than 2 inches wide would be easier for me.
 

Brian11785

Hall of Fame
Based on experience: 1) agree with the Atlanta, GA tennis scene, 2) Los Angeles, CA is great coz not only can you find players every day there's tons of free public courts in great condition with night lights, and 3) Dallas, TX also is pretty good - courts get packed - and less rednecks than most of Texas.

Just wanna comment that OPPOSITE to all of the above Tampa, FL friggin SUX for tennis.

OK so what's the final verdict - is Atlanta the WINNER??

Dallas resident here. I am not sure I'd put us in the top 3. Some great country club/private club facilities, but the public facilities, at least in Dallas proper, are lacking. Most of the park courts are either, as you say, always packed or their chain link fence nets that still get ruined by soccer players. Just like the Asian cuisine, the best tennis is up in the northern suburbs. High Point in Plano is where I learned to play tennis. It is objectively a great facility and also just holds a place in my heart.

I'm curious what the problem with Tampa is. I play in a tournament on Harbour Island every year that I love. But I don't know much about the tennis there outside that. They have a public clay facility, which is more than you can say for Dallas. I met Gigi Fernandez at the Harbour Island facility couple years ago. Her mom is apparently a member there.

San Diego would be my top choice. Balboa Park is amazing. The weather is amazing. A community unlike that at any public facility I've ever been to.
 

srv vlly

Semi-Pro
I'm thinking the answer lies in availability + weather.
I would agree with this. The availability of tennis courts, weather that allows for year-round play, and I would add, the availability of players and the overall tennis scene.
 

LaZeR

Professional
Dallas resident here. I am not sure I'd put us in the top 3. Some great country club/private club facilities, but the public facilities, at least in Dallas proper, are lacking. Most of the park courts are either, as you say, always packed or their chain link fence nets that still get ruined by soccer players.
Where exactly in Dallas do you live? Don't mean to number them as top 1-2-3, was just organizing my cities of experience. I was referring to my hood in Dallas, around 7 miles north of downtown, with around a 5 mile radius. Similar to Los Angeles, you can always find someone to play in Dallas. Several clubs kept requesting me to join their leagues via email, phone calls, and one even offered that I didn't have to pay. WHERE ELSE does THAT happen?? And, the Dallas Apres Tennis Social Scene is also great - better than LA - there's lotsa hot tennis girls & often went out for drinks after!! :cool:

I'm curious what the problem with Tampa is. I play in a tournament on Harbour Island every year that I love. But I don't know much about the tennis there outside that. They have a public clay facility, which is more than you can say for Dallas.
I'm around 10 miles east-south of downtown Tampa, add 1 mile for Harbour Island, there's not much of a tennis scene at all, and tennis is not at all vibrant. We've discussed this among some players and no one can figure it out. In LA & Dallas you can always find someone to play, joining a club isn't at all necessary, and the same applies to Atlanta. In greater Tampa people are so spread out, the bridges to Clearwater & St Pete's are SO LONG that after a while they get tiring, and many people live 20 miles north, or east, so they stick to their hoods. It seems like in Tampa you MUST join a club to find players &/or be able to play, and then make a long trip to get there (or move closer to a club). Oh ya and public courts are like ghetto asphalt.

Tennis is important to me on many levels. If Tampa doesn't pick up might move to Atlanta or back to Dallas. San Diego and LA housing costs are ridiculously outrageous. But Tampa has excellent winter weather - better than all other cities including San Diego - and SO CHEAP that you can live like a king and still save tons of moola $$$$ for future reference. A big, brand new $200k house in Tampa costs around $1.5 MILLION in LA, close to that in San Diego, and if you pay that much Property Taxes alone are around $10k per year there.
 
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SOY78

Professional
Where exactly in Dallas do you live? Don't mean to number them as top 1-2-3, was just organizing my cities of experience. I was referring to my hood in Dallas, around 7 miles north of downtown, with around a 5 mile radius. Similar to Los Angeles, you can always find someone to play in Dallas. Several clubs kept requesting me to join their leagues via email, phone calls, and one even offered that I didn't have to pay. WHERE ELSE does THAT happen?? And, the Dallas Apres Tennis Social Scene is also great - better than LA - there's lotsa hot tennis girls & often went out for drinks after!! :cool:

I'm around 10 miles east-south of downtown Tampa, add 1 mile for Harbour Island, there's not much of a tennis scene at all, and tennis is not at all vibrant. We've discussed this among some players and no one can figure it out. In LA & Dallas you can always find someone to play, joining a club isn't at all necessary, and the same applies to Atlanta. In greater Tampa people are so spread out, the bridges to Clearwater & St Pete's are SO LONG that after a while they get tiring, and many people live 20 miles north, or east, so they stick to their hoods. It seems like in Tampa you MUST join a club to find players &/or be able to play, and then make a long trip to get there (or move closer to a club). Oh ya and public courts are like ghetto asphalt.

Tennis is important to me on many levels. If Tampa doesn't pick up might move to Atlanta or back to Dallas. San Diego and LA housing costs are ridiculously outrageous. But Tampa has excellent winter weather - better than all other cities including San Diego - and SO CHEAP that you can live like a king and still save tons of moola $$$$ for future reference. A big, brand new $200k house in Tampa costs around $1.5 MILLION in LA, close to that in San Diego, and if you pay that much Property Taxes alone are around $10k per year there.

Yeah Tampa is really not even close to being a good tennis city, or maybe I am not looking hard enough and cannot see myself paying hundreds of dollars per month for a tennis club membership.
 

atatu

Legend
When I was visiting Tampa and Saint Pete I was amazed at how nice the public clay court facilities are, not sure which one I played at in Tampa but it was near a hospital and right on the waterfront. Dallas is pretty good, but lacking clay courts which are nice when you get older. Here is Austin clay courts are extremely rare, only available at private clubs.
 

LaZeR

Professional
When I was visiting Tampa and Saint Pete I was amazed at how nice the public clay court facilities are, not sure which one I played at in Tampa but it was near a hospital and right on the waterfront. Dallas is pretty good, but lacking clay courts which are nice when you get older. Here is Austin clay courts are extremely rare, only available at private clubs.
Aren't Clay courts pretty much rare all over USA & Canada? They're also expensive to maintain in terms of care & watering etc.
 

AceyMan

Professional
I heard it's too popular, can't get a court easily
"Nobody goes there anymore—it's too crowded."
–Yogi Berra, MLB HOF

/Acey

I came here to +1 Atlanta, but it's been years since I was local and actively playing tennis. The North and South Fulton Tennis Centers are freaking amazing for municipal run facilities, that much is for certain.
 

atatu

Legend
Aren't Clay courts pretty much rare all over USA & Canada? They're also expensive to maintain in terms of care & watering etc.
I think they aren't as rare in Florida and some areas of the South where they get a lot of rain. There are some clay courts on the east coast as well as the northeast.
 

Brian11785

Hall of Fame
Where exactly in Dallas do you live? Don't mean to number them as top 1-2-3, was just organizing my cities of experience. I was referring to my hood in Dallas, around 7 miles north of downtown, with around a 5 mile radius. Similar to Los Angeles, you can always find someone to play in Dallas. Several clubs kept requesting me to join their leagues via email, phone calls, and one even offered that I didn't have to pay. WHERE ELSE does THAT happen?? And, the Dallas Apres Tennis Social Scene is also great - better than LA - there's lotsa hot tennis girls & often went out for drinks after!! :cool:

I live in Lake Highlands now but have lived in Plano, in downtown Dallas and Addison area in the past.

I live really close to Fair Oaks Tennis Center. The people who run it are nice and laid back, but it was built in a floodplain and is regularly unplayable. And the bugs can be terrible. LB Houston also floods every couple of years. Samuell Grand is probably the nicest public facility in Dallas proper, but there is no tennis community in that area. Fretz, just by pure geography, is the closest thing to a thriving city-run facility that exists.

My theory: Dallas is veeeeeeery segregated and polarized by income level. Extremely rich people (who are going to going to country clubs) or extremely poor people (who generally aren't interested in tennis.) That's why you have to go to the suburbs for a good public facility....because that's where the middle/upper-middle class is.
 
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AceyMan

Professional
San Diego by a landslide(oops!)

I read the subtext of the question as "where would I want to move for great day-to-day tennis", and for me being prohibitively expensive kind of rules out San Diego as a serious choice.

If I'm wrong about this, then I nominate ... Monaco .

I mean, just look at how many touring pros live there .

/Acey
[edit: typo]
 
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WildVolley

Legend
I read the subtext of the question as "where would I want to move for great day-to-day tennis", and for me being prohibitively expensive kind of rules out San Diego as a serious choice.

If OK wrong about this, then I nominate ... Monaco .

I mean, just look at how many touring pros live there .

/Acey

The touring pros don't live in Monaco for the tennis. Likewise, the reason touring pros don't live in San Diego isn't because the tennis scene is lacking.

Let's assume you can afford Monaco and are a member of the club. How is the tennis scene there? Anyone here played there?
 
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