Visiting New York City for many is a dream come true. I remember my first trip there to watch the US Open in 2015, hoping to see my favorite player Rafael Nadal play on Arthur Ashe. After an unexpected loss to Fabio Fognini in the third round, we settled for watching the great Novak Djokovic in a nighttime thriller.
Fortunately, for tennis lovers New York City has a humongous variety of opportunity to play tennis in both players and clubs. Whether you are just visiting for a short trip, or are in NYC for the long-term, you can definitely find this guide useful for your tennis journey in NYC.
Finding Tennis Players in NYC
The first thing I recommend doing is to join the Facebook Group – NYC Tennis Players. In this group, there are 10+ posts a day of people trying to setup matches and find partners to play with.
Other benefits of being in this group:
- Local coaches for lessons and clinics
- Asking questions and getting recommendations on tennis courts
- Making new friends quickly (5500+ members in the group)
Please keep in mind that the group is dedicated to tennis and they try to keep the posts on topic. If you have questions about hotels/restaurants in NYC – either message someone directly or check other forums.
There are also two more Facebook groups if you want to get more location specific: 1) Brooklyn Tennis Players and 2) NYC Queens Tennis Players
The Top 10 Tennis Clubs in NYC to Play Tennis
Here you will find the top 10 tennis centers in New York City, where many of people in the forums are frequently found. Plus, be sure to check out the top ranked ones, as they will create some incredible memories in just one visit.
10. Randall’s Island Tennis Center (Randall’s Island)
Accessible via a pedestrian bridge from Manhattan, the Randall’s Island Tennis Center offers tennis courts as part of the New York City public park system. To play you’ll need to purchase a permit online if you want to become a member and for non-member seekers, there is an online waiver that must be filled out prior to playing.
Randall Island Tennis Center has 24 tennis courts, including both clay and hard courts, plus a covered roof during the winter season.
9. 96th Street Clay Tennis Courts (Hudson River)
For tennis enthusiasts, want to try some red clay courts located on the right on the Hudson River? Well, 96th Street Clay Tennis Courts has got you covered. This 10 court facility is maintained by the Riverside Clay Tennis Association and are also part of the NYC parks department. Please check the website for up to date info on how to get your permit and book courts online.
8. Cunningham Park (Queens)
Found in Queens, Cunningham park has tennis courts available and is a local favorite. It is also part of the NYC park system, check out the website here. With 20 courts in total, during the winter season, 10 of the courts of bubbled for optimal play during the cold.
7. Fort Washington Park (Hudson River)
This park on the Hudson River has courts and provides a nice setting for playing tennis. With only ten hard courts, it is ideal in the spring, summer, and fall, as you will love the surrounding trees and layout of these courts. For more info on up to date pricing and reservations, check the website – Fort Washington Park tennis.
6. Astoria Park (Queens)
In Queens, Astoria park tennis courts have beautiful views of the East River and the Manhattan skyline. With 14 hard courts, this facility has a vibe that you won’t want to miss. Next door and part of Astoria Park is a running track that you can also take advantage of for exercising.
5. McCarren Park (Brooklyn)
Located in Brooklyn, the McCarren Park tennis courts is a place of “tennis for everyone.” With a covered bubble for the winter season, it is a great place to play all year long with well-maintained courts.
They only have seven tennis courts but make up for it with quality programming. They offer full-range programs from young children, adults, and advanced competition training. The proof is that they get some pro visitors from time to time, including ATP professional Lucas Poille.
4. Riverside Park (Hudson River)
Riverside Park tennis courts run along the Hudson River and serve 10 hard courts. Please don’t confuse these with the 96th Street Clay Tennis courts, as they are both part of the Riverside Park facility, but are run by different organizations. For more info about this facility and tennis progamming check the website – Tennis Innovators at Riverside.
3. Prospect Park Tennis Center (Brooklyn)
New York City is huge, but if you are looking to play specifically in Brooklyn – Prospect Park Tennis Center is for you.
Situated within Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, this tennis facility offers both clay and hard courts for tennis enthusiasts. One nice feature is the bubble structure that is installed for the colder season that runs from October-May. The amount of courts available fluctuates depending on the season.
2. Central Park (Manhattan)
Want to play tennis at an epic place? Then Central Park is where you need to go, especially if you like clay tennis courts as they have 26 clay tennis courts and four hard courts. The Central Park Tennis Center is a popular spot for both locals and visitors.
The best way to play at Central Park is to make a reservation online which costs $15 currently. You can make reservations up to 30 days in advance. Check out the Central Park tennis website for booking courts online, up to date costs and hours, and other information.
1. USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (Flushing)
What could be better than playing tennis at the home of the US Open? Located in Flushing Meadows, tennis players can play at the site when the US Open is not taking place.
There are numerous tennis courts available for play year around, plus a wide selection of programs ranging from junior development, tennis camps, private lessons, and adult clinics.
You can book a court online court at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center website.
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