Love
With the US Open right around the corner, we have compiled a few local places to practice our killer back-hands, ace worthy serves, slicing fore-hands, and torpedo volleys. Even if you don’t rank with the USTA these courts make you feel like a pro.
1. Central park. Nice clay courts. Rules for shoes (smooth-soles)
and reserving courts are strict, but with a permit ($200) reserving is pretty easy, do it a few days in advance. Get there 10 before the hour or they give away your court. You can reserve one court for singles for 1 hour (only one person needs a permit) or one court for doubles for 2 hours (two people need permits). Costs $15 to play. Each person. Courts are open from April to November.
2. Roosevelt Island Racquet Club. Not that hard to get to — the F train one stop from Manhattan or the tram. Nice, clean facility– not high end nice but very comfortable. Rates are cheaper than the
other indoor/winter courts. And lots of room on the court to play. No strict shoe guidelines.
3. Sutton. Not open in the spring/summer. Good courts, not much facility available. Very expensive. Clay. Indoor.
4. Midtown Tennis. Indoor, clay. Fair and fairly inexpensive. Not a lot of room to play, so you or your partner better have good aim.
5. Gotham, up in the Bronx. Plenty of hard indoor courts.
6. Randalls Island has some courts too. Difficult to get to, and pricey. So plan ahead.
photo courtesy of gogo-tennis.com
