While you may have visited New York City to watch some of the best players in the world compete, there are ample opportunities to carry your racquets with you when you’re in the Big Apple.
The U.S. Open is a premier event that affords us two weeks of prime-time tennis during the year’s final Grand Slam. It often sparks an annual love for the game among players of all levels. If you’re planning to visit the city for a future vacation, have made the tournament an annual tradition, or want to play tennis the next time you are in New York City, then this guide is for you.
We’ve highlighted 10 tennis clubs and racquet sports facilities in and around New York City that could help spark an opportunity for you to grab some court time in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Long Island/Queens, and surrounding areas.
Long Island / Queens Tennis Clubs & Locations
- Location: Forest Hills, NY
- Highlights: Once home to the U.S. Open for over 60 years, this historic private club still basks in the grass courts and all-white policy of another era. However, hard and clay courts and indoor paddle tennis courts are now available for the cooler months.
- Thirty eight tennis courts on five surfaces (grass, clay, Har-Tru DecoTurf, and Synthetic grass)
- Platform Tennis and Pickleball are also available.
- Additional Features: Members can also enjoy the historic 14,000-seat Forest Hills Stadium as well as a pool and lounge dining option. In 2024, the West Side Tennis Club also hosted the innovative UTS Tennis tournament just prior to the U.S. Open.
- Location: Long Island City, NY
- Highlights: An elegant private club whose seven indoor Har-Tru courts perch on the roof of what was once the Swingline Staplers factory, giving it views of the Manhattan skyline to go with its other health club amenities.
- Additional Features: 4 Squash Courts as well as programming; full-service in-house spa, players lounge, full bar, cafe, state-of-the-art gym, and rooftop deck
Manhattan Tennis Clubs & Locations
- Location: Central Park, Manhattan
- Highlights: With twenty-six Har-tru and four hard courts set in the heart of Central Park, this iconic location offers a picturesque environment to play tennis, especially in the spring and fall.
- Additional Features: Snack Bar conveniently located inside the Tennis House; Demo racquets available for rental as well as on-site stringing services
4. Hudson River Park Tennis Courts
- Location: Pier 40, Manhattan
- Highlights: These three hard courts–one singles, two doubles–border the Hudson River Greenway near Pier 40 and look downriver at the Statue of Liberty and World Trade Center. The location of these courts has spectacular views!
- Additional Features: These courts are free, open to the public, and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
5. Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club
- Location: Midtown, Manhattan
- Highlights: The club’s five hard courts–outdoor in summer, bubbled in winter–spread across a rooftop just west of the Broadway Theater District. A popular venue for promotional tennis events during the U.S. Open.
- Additional Features: Various membership rates, including summer and fall court rates available
6. John McEnroe Tennis Academy at Sportime Randall’s Island
- Location: Randall’s Island, Manhattan
- Highlights: Named after the tennis legend, this club and Academy offers high-performance training programs on thirty indoor and outdoor hard and clay courts – sixteen Laykold hard courts, fourteen Har-Tru clay courts (including eleven indoor hard courts in two permanent, conditioned buildings, and seven clay courts in year-round conditioned air-structure)
- Additional Features: Twelve pickleball courts, state-of-the-art fitness facilities, spacious locker rooms, Pro Shop, 24-hour stringing, cafe/bar, event facilities, and more
7. Roosevelt Island Racquet Club
- Location: Roosevelt Island, Manhattan
- Highlights: Set on an island in the East River and accessible by tram, ferry, and subway, this active public/private tennis complex holds twelve Har-Tru clay courts beneath temperature-controlled bubbles.
- Additional Features: Gorgeous views of the Manhattan and Long Island City skylines; Various membership rates, including summer court rates available
Brooklyn Tennis Clubs & Locations
8. Fort Greene Park Tennis Courts
- Location: Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn
- Highlights: A local favorite, these six outdoor hard courts provide a community atmosphere with well-maintained courts, perfect for players who enjoy a more laid-back environment.
- Additional Features: Learn more about the programming available through the Fort Greene Tennis Association.
9. McCarren Park Tennis Courts
- Location: McCarren Park, Brooklyn
- Highlights: Set in trendy Williamsburg, these seven hard courts draw adults and juniors year-round (they’re bubbled in winter) for clinics, cardio, and open play.
- Additional Features: Various programming options, such as adult and junior clinics and lessons, are available throughout the year.
10. Prospect Park Tennis Center
- Location: Prospect Park, Brooklyn
- Highlights: Set amid the soccer, football, and baseball fields of Parade Ground, this popular complex contributes 11 hard and clay courts to Prospect Park’s vast recreational playground, including a seasonal tennis bubble.
- Additional Features: Hourly rates are available, as well as programming throughout the year, such as adult and junior clinics and lessons.
Did you know?
The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, where the U.S. Open is played in Flushing Meadows, Queens, is actually a public venue year-round? This world-class facility has twenty-two outdoor courts and twelve indoor courts and is a must-visit for any tennis enthusiast.
