Tennis Fever Is Catching In New York

New York has tennis fever like never before. Why? The tennis scene is booming as the 2024 US Open is soon taking place at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Monday August 26- Sunday September 8, 2024. 

Every summer, this event brings the best tennis players in the world to New York City, contributing to a surge in coaching lessons booked by tennis players. In 2023, demand for tennis lessons in NYC spiked from June to August. 

• Searches for tennis lessons in NYC increased by 657%
• TeachMe.To tennis lesson bookings jumped a staggering 951%
• The largest increase came in the 25-34 age range, with a monstrous 1997% growth in lessons booked

This remarkable growth highlights the city's passion for tennis and the increasing interest in improving skills through professional coaching.

And it seems that this year will be a repeat of last year. Already in late July to early August, tennis lesson searches are up 728% from June while TeachMe.To bookings are already up 452% in preparation for the US Open in late August. 

Luckily, New York City can handle the demand with an incredible 502 tennis courts across the five boroughs. There are also currently 23 coaches that serve Queens–138 coaches in all that serve the greater New York and New Jersey. Tennis coaching lessons are even taking place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, the same venue as the US Open. This facility has 22 tennis courts inside its 46.5 acres and 11 tennis courts in the adjoining park.

Let’s take a look at the hottest places to play tennis and get tennis coaching lessons based on TeachMe.To’s data. 

Manhattan

​Manhattan is by far the most popular place to participate in tennis coaching in New York City. With 44.68% of all tennis coaches located in this borough, Manhattan is the go-to destination for those seeking high-quality tennis instruction. This concentration of coaches is complemented by a significant demand for coaching lessons, with 56.51% of all lessons in the state being booked there. The high demand in Manhattan can be attributed to the accessibility of courts, a large population of tennis enthusiasts, and the availability of professional coaching services.

Brooklyn

Brooklyn ranks second in both the percentage of coaches and coaching lessons booked, with 29.79% of the city's coaches and 21.56% of lessons. This borough has been experiencing a steady growth in its tennis community, driven by an increasing number of courts and programs dedicated to the sport. Venues such as Court 16, located in downtown Brooklyn, with 44 tennis courts, a practice court and pickleball courts, give the community fantastic places to play.

Queens

Queens ranks third with 10.64% of the city's tennis coaches and accounts for 9.67% of coaching lessons booked. While not as dominant as Manhattan or Brooklyn, Queens offers a substantial number of facilities and coaches, making it a solid choice for those interested in taking up the sport. With the US Open coming next month, don't be surprised to see Queens move up in the rankings.

Jersey City

Just across the Hudson River, Jersey City shows a respectable presence in the New York tennis scene, with 7.45% of the coaches and 8.18% of coaching lessons booked. This close proximity to New York City, combined with a growing local interest in tennis, positions Jersey City as an emerging city for tennis.

The future of tennis in New York

The US Open plays an important role as the premier annual professional tennis event in New York. But the tennis scene in New York is actually quite diverse with more than 500 tennis courts in the New York City area. This number of locations to play the sport helps ensure that tennis will continue to thrive in the future. Whether you're in the heart of Manhattan or the vibrant neighborhoods of Brooklyn, there's no shortage of opportunities to engage with the sport. 

As the community continues to grow, so too will the accessibility and quality of tennis coaching across the region.