Andre Agassi got his start on the courts of Las Vegas at the age of 3 and pros knew he had a special talent for tennis by age 5. The winner of eight Grand Slams and an Olympic gold medal was known for ending points quickly with his hard shots and extreme angles. His return, baseline game and reflexes earned him the No. 1 ranking in the world. Agassi, along with his 22-time Grand Slam winner wife Steffi Graf, still calls Vegas home.
While you may not have a swing like Agassi, you can still find some courts in Las Vegas to challenge your friends or learn some new techniques. Here are the Haute 5 tennis courts in Las Vegas.
Always Take the Weather
Vegas can go from windy to hot to chilly all in the same day. You never have to worry about weather effecting your game when you play at the International Tennis Centre Las Vegas (5975 Topaz St.). The club contains eight courts inside a climate-controlled, 80,000-square-foot building, one of the few indoor facilities in Sin City. The $10 million tennis oasis opened last year. Cadillac Escalades pick you up from The Strip. Four pros on staff offer lessons. Prices range from $40 per person for one hour and $100 an hour for doubles. For reservations, call 702.685.6038.
Public Property
While the Amanda & Stacy Darling Memorial Tennis Center (7901 W. Washington Ave.) may be a public facility, it won the Public Park of The Year Award from Racquet Sports Industry magazine in the publication’s January 2010 issue. This tennis center that is part of the 110-acre Kellogg Zaher Sports Complex says that interest in tennis has risen 20 percent since it opened built in 2005. It boasts being the largest public outdoor tennis complex in Nevada with 23 lighted hard courts and a 3,000-seat stadium court. The center provides an array of tennis programs, events and services for beginner through advanced players. Annual passes cost $300 for adults, and courts go for $2.50 to $3.50 an hour per person. For reservations, call 702.229.2100.
Inside Man
ClubSport Green Valley (2100 Olympic Ave., Henderson) also gives you a chance to swing your racket year-round. The tennis center has 10 indoor courts and four outdoor lighted courts. Seven tennis pros on staff offer lessons. The club has a full menu of instructional, competitive and social tennis programs for players of all ages and abilities. Generally you must be a guest of a member to play, and you can only play once a month with a member. For more information on membership, call 702.454.6000.
Old School
On The Strip, you can hit the courts at Bally’s, where eight championship-caliber lighted courts await you. Tennis pros can help you improve your stroke, while a full-service pro shop can provide that racquet you may have left behind. Fees per hour start at $12 for guests and $20 for nonguests. For reservations, call 702.733-3444.
Vintage Vegas
For a tennis experience that seems more like a retreat, try a set at the Flamingo Las Vegas, where the four lighted courts are surrounded by the resort’s four swimming pools on 15 acres straight out of the tropics. Pros offer lessons, and a pro shop next to the courts sets you up with all your tennis needs. Rates are $12 per hour for guests, $20 per hour for nonguests. For reservations, which are required, call 702.733.3444.
