Are you a tourist seeking new locations? Or a Tennis fan fed up with the usual tennis court environment you see? If the answer is yes, then do not worry as we’ve got you covered. Our team at sportarsh has compiled a list of the world’s most fascinating tennis courts just for your consumption. Trust me, even a tourist with no interest in tennis will have a change of mind after reading this article. So without saying much let’s delve right into it below;
Fascinating Tennis Courts In the World:
1. Helipad Court in Dubai
First on the list is the helipad court located on top of the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai. What amazes me is that, the Burl Al Arab hotel is actually built on an artificial island. Meaning, the island was created by man instead of the usual natural means. Construction of the hotel first began in 1994 and was not until 1999 that is was fully completed. As stated earlier, on top of the building is a helipad which has been converted into a tennis court. But interestingly, this is not the first time the helipad has been converted into something different. Over the years, it has been used as a car race park, boxing ring and even as a jumping off point for kite surfing.
The ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) in 2005 invited both Roger Federer and Andre Agassi for a special high sky match on top of the hotel. Your guess is as good as mine, they lost a lot of balls but it was a great feeling ( at least for them). For those scared of heights, make sure to shake off some fears before trying it out.
2. Tennis Court on water, Qatar
Now if you think playing tennis on a helipad and on top of a 689 feet hotel sounds extreme, then the floating court on water will blow your mind. This amazing feat can be located on the Palm Tree Island in Qatar.
It is called the Palm Tree Island cause literally there is nothing else to see or do apart from the sight of palm trees. Nevertheless, it did not prevent the Qatar Tennis Federation from inviting tennis icons Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to play on this temporary court. The only disadvantage will be the loss of balls but surely, it is a nice experience.
3. Singita Sabora, Tanzania
Moving from Western Asia , we head straight to Africa. Do you want to play tennis along with a more nature like feel? If the answer is yes then the Singita Sabora Camp located in Tanzania is the right destination for you. No animals are killed or poached as the camp is mainly for the conservation and protection of wild animals.
A testament to this is its 350,000 unfenced acres of land, allowing animals to freely wander about. Once you get there as a guest, there are no restrictions. You get to see lions, zebras, cheetahs and a lot more. The only downside is that it’s really expensive, $688 for a child and $1,375 for adults.
4. Arizona Tennis Court, Enchantment Resort
Now this is what I call ”tennis with a view”. If you happen to be in Arizona,USA then the Enchantment Resort is the location for you. The Enchantment Resort comes with a total of three outdoor courts, including two centre courts. But Before you head unto the court, make sure you are very well hydrated. I say this because Arizona is the hottest state in the USA and we wouldn’t want any emergencies during your fun time out, would we?
5. Main Wimbledon Center Court
We cannot do a list of amazing tennis courts without the mentioning or inclusion of the Wimbledon center court. In fact it would be criminal, “lol” just kidding. Anyways, the Wimbledon centre court is located at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London.
This particular center court is not open to all. The only time it’s opened is when the yearly Wimbledon championships is ongoing, which lasts for only two weeks. For die hard Tennis fans living in London, I am guessing many have already been to the Wimbledon center court. But if you haven’t yet, here are some of the key features of the centre court.
Foremost, it comes with a retractable roof which allows play to continue even when there is a heavy downpour (rain). Due to the size of the Wimbledon center court, the retractable roof takes about 10 minutes to fully close. And once it’s closed, all remaining matches are played this way until the end of the match. Also, they have a very special court called the Royal box. As the name sounds, it’s mainly for use by the Royal Family and sometimes to other distinguished guests.
6. O2 Arena Tennis Court
Still in the United Kingdom, we take a look at the O2 Arena Tennis Court. For many, the first thing that comes to mind upon hearing the words ”O2 Arena” is music. If you happen to be one, you are actually not wrong. Construction of the arena began in 2003 and was finally completed in 2007. After the completion, a series of high profile musicians/entertainers booked the arena for performances as part of their tour. The likes of Celine Dion, rock star icon Prince and British rock band Keane, to name a few have all used the arena one way or the other.
The first time the arena hosted a tennis game was in 2009, during the ATP world tour finals. It became a success and ever since then has continued to host the competition. The arena is named after world’s telecommunication giants O2. If you love music and tennis, then this arena is your best option.
7. Arthur Ashe Stadium
From the United Kingdom, we head straight to the USA. This time to the Arthur Ashe Stadium. Of all the tennis stadiums in the world, it is by far the largest in the world; with a capacity of 23,771. Due to its capacity, it hosts the US Open tournament and it’s only at this point that the stadium is open to the public. But did you know the stadium is named after a tennis player? Incase you didn’t know, the stadium is actually named after a former American professional tennis player by name Arthur Ashe. He is the only black man to win the Singles at the Wimbledon and the first to be selected to the United States Davis Cup team.
Now talking about the roof, it also comes with a retractable roof just like the Wimbledon center court. So be rest assured of smooth game play once you are at the stadium.
8. Stade Roland Garros
The Stade Roland Garros is a complex of tennis courts located in Paris , France. It comprises of twenty courts but for the purpose of this article, we will be focusing on Court Philippe Chatrier as it’s the biggest of all. The tennis stadium it’s only available to the public during the French Open. Construction of the stadium began in 1927 and was completed a year later. The main idea for the construction of the complex was to prepare France for its defense of the Davis Cup they won in 1927.
After the construction of the stadium, the French government decided to name it after Roland Garros. Garros was a fighter pilot as well as a pioneering aviator in France. He is considered as the inventor of the first forward-firing aircraft machine gun. To conclude, the stadium has a luxurious restaurant and bar complex which would be a nice place to cool off.
9. India Wells Tennis Garden
Don’t be deceived by the name, as this structure is not in India. The tennis facility is actually located in California. Aside from the Arthur Ashe Stadium, this is actually the second largest outdoor tennis stadium in the world, boasting of a capacity of about 16,100. Although it hosts the Indians wells masters, it is available to members of the United States Tennis Association. As such, members can access the stadium and use courts for recreational play.
Construction of the stadium began in 2000 with an estimated budget of $77 million. Currently, the Tennis Garden contains 29 tennis courts. It’s no wonder it’s called the Tennis Garden.
10. Church of Sao Paulo Tennis Court
In 2017, an artist by name Asad Raza converted a 16th century deconsecrated church into a tennis court. This historical building can be located inside the heart of Milan. When asked of his inspiration, the artist (Asad Raza) stated he’s always had a strong interest in the game of tennis. Personally, I think this is a good idea. Not only are you touring the site, but you can get to play or learn tennis whiles at it. All you have to do is carry along your racket and balls.
Surprisingly some see this as a bad idea stating whether deconsecrated or not, a tennis court should not be installed in a church building. Like the saying goes “opinions are like noses and everyone has one”. That’s their opinion, fair. But to be rest assured, the walls are netted to prevent the balls from touching the walls. Like I said earlier, this is a good idea and would be an interesting place for families to tour.
11. Seaside Tennis Club, Hawaii
Hawaii is notably known for its great beaches, greenish-blue waters and fine sand. But one particular hotel adding a new spice to this norm is the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. The hotel has its own tennis club with at least eleven (11) pristine oceanside courts. As seen in the picture above, the view is phenomenal. Popular tennis resorts blog ( TennisResortsOnline) once listed the tennis facility as world’s number one best setting. Kindly try this place out anytime you are in Hawaii.
12. Bunabhainneadar Tennis Court
The Bunabhainneadar tennis court is located in Scotland on the Isle of Harris. It has been described as the world’s most remote tennis court by Andy Murray’s mother Judy Murray. The court was built in 1998 after former tourists Mike and Peggy Briggs initiated a fund raiser. Before the arrival of the two, local kids used to play ball back and forth over a fishing net rigged up across the road. But as tourists themselves, they had to seek the view of the local residents before they could proceed. Questionnaires were sent and the response from the locals were positive.
Former North Harris Estate owner, Jonathan Bulmer liked the idea so much he sold the land to them for just £1. The total amount generated from the fund raiser was £62,000, of which majority were from professional tennis players and fans alike.
Ever since it’s completion 20 years ago, the court still remains open to the public and equipment can be hired once you get there.
13. Kiawah Island Golf Resort
Though the name sounds like a golf only resort, it actually has 22 tennis courts. The resort can be located on the Kiawah Island in South Carolina, USA. Opened in 1974, the resort keeps ranking as one of the top resorts in the United States. But to get a chance to use the resort’s tennis facilities, you either have to be a guest or must have a reservation. For a court reservation, you get to pay as low as $36 per hour. And oh, equipments can be hired at the resort, incase you fail to carry yours along.
14. Grand Hyatt Denver’s Skycourt
The Grand Hyatt Denver hotel actually reminds me of the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai. If you can recall, I mentioned earlier that the Burj Al Arab hotel has a helipad court on top of its building. Well that’s the same idea used by the Grand Hyatt Denver hotel. The only difference is that the latter comes with a racing track. The hotel can be located at Denver Colorado, USA; and judging from the over 2000 positive reviews I have read online, it surely would be a nice place.
15. Gstaad Palace Hotel Tennis Court
The last tennis court we will take a look at is located at Gstaad Palace Hotel. This hotel is situated in Switzerland. It has four outdoor tennis courts as well as three indoor tennis courts. These can be used interchangeably depending on the weather. Due to this, it’s one of the most renowned tennis hotels in Switzerland. Aside tennis, the hotel offers numerous sporting activities as well. There are Golf, hiking, climbing and even cycling.
To Wrap It Up
The article written has been well researched and everything you see on the page is one hundred percent factual. Incase we forgot to add any tennis hotel, kindly let us know in our comments section below. Thank you very much for reading.