If you don’t have a tennis bucket list, now’s the time to make one. We’ve rounded up the world’s 10 most picturesque tennis courts – from Australia to Africa to Arizona. So dust off your passport and get ready for a serious case of tennis wanderlust.
Bio-Hotel Stanglwirt
Where: Schattseite, Austria
Why: This 400-year-old, family-run hotel sits at the foot of the stunning Austrian Alps. In addition to the 6 indoor tennis courts, there are 8 outdoor red-clay courts with a ridiculously beautiful mountain backdrop. As if that weren’t enough, the resort is also home to a 5-star health spa, 7 swimming pools, horse stables and a golf course. You’ll never want to leave.
How: Court fees range between €15-32/hour and non-guests are welcome.
Singita Sabora Camp
Where: Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Why: Imagine watching wild zebras and giraffes graze the Savannah plains of the Serengeti…. all alongside a tennis court. This is actually possible at Tanzania’s Singita Sabora, a 1920’s-style explorer’s camp set on a 350,000-acre private game reserve. Working up a sweat on the clay court before a safari that brings you thiiiiiis close to cheetahs, elephants and baboons? The stuff of dreams!
How: Courts are for resort guest use only.
Alice Marble Tennis Courts
Where: San Francisco, California
Why: These 4 public courts sit atop Russian Hill, affording excellent views of the city, San Francisco Bay and Golden Gate Bridge below. Best of all, they’re FREE!
How: Make a reservation with San Francisco Recreation and Parks.
Royal King’s Park Tennis Club
Where: Perth, Western Australia
Why: Not only is this one of Australia’s oldest tennis clubs, it’s also one of its most picturesque. The 30-court facility (22 of which are grass) is located in Kings Park – the largest urban park in the world, 5 minutes from the center of Perth, Australia. There’s nothing quite like playing to the sound of kookaburras cackling and the smell of eucalyptus trees.
How: Become a member of the tennis club or partner gym, Next Generation.
Il San Pietro di Positano
Where: Positano, Italy
Why: This hard court is nestled between the terraced cliffs of the sun-kissed Amalfi Coast. Anyone else down for sipping limoncello between sets and then going for a post-match dip in the Mediterranean Sea, just a few yards away?
How: Courts are for resort guest use only.
Enchantment Resort
Where: Sedona, Arizona
Why: Take to the one of the five outdoor hard courts nestled between the towering red rock cliffs of Boynton Canyon in the resort’s 70-acre estate. Follow it up with a sunset cocktail on the resort’s patio and watch the surrounding canyon turn a dozen shades of crimson.
How: Purchase a day pass for $38 for access to the tennis courts.
Seaside Tennis Club at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
Where: Kohala Coast, Hawaii
Why: Located on the northwest coast of Hawaii’s big island, in majestic Kuana’oa Bay, is this iconic 5-star resort. Follow up a morning spent enjoying the white sand beach with a hit on one of the resort’s 11 ocean-side courts or take part in a private lesson, daily clinic or tournament.
How: Courts are $25/hour.
Rafael Nadal Tennis Centre at Sani Resort
Where: Halkidiki, Greece
Why: Rafael Nadal’s newest tennis facility opened this April at the Sani Resort in northern Greece. Modeled after his successful center in Cancun, Mexico, the facility features 8 brand-new clay courts and a team of tennis pros who’ve all undergone rigorous training at Rafa’s Academy in his hometown of Mallorca, Spain. We’re not sure what sounds better – daily swims in the azure waters of the Aegean Sea or our tennis game getting the Rafa treatment.
How: Courts are for resort guest use only from April-October.
International Tennis Hall of Fame
Where: Newport, Rhode Island
Why: You’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time when you visit these historically important courts. From 1881 till 1914 the facility was home to the US National Championship, the tournament which later became the US Open. Today, visitors can play on any one of the facility’s 13 grass, 6 hard and 1 clay court. Bonus: there’s also a museum which houses 1,900 artifacts of tennis history, vintage tennis equipment and period attire.
How: For non-members, courts start at $56/hour plus a guest fee.
Four Seasons Resort Nevis
Where: Nevis, West Indies
Why: Travel to the tiny Caribbean island of Nevis, which is only 36 square miles large and boasts of having no building taller than a coconut tree, and find the luxurious Four Seasons Resort. With 10 tennis courts all a stone’s throw away from the beautiful palm-lined Pinney’s Beach, you’ll be tempted to stay a while. Just think of how your tennis skills will improve!
How: Courts are for resort guest use only.
Is it just us, or will returning to your neighborhood tennis court be extremely difficult after visiting one of these gems? Consider yourself warned.
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