TENNIS

Greater Miami has a variety of public tennis facilities and learning centers, as well as a number of tournaments each season. The City of Miami Beach Parks and Recreation Department (305/673-7730 or (305/673-7725) manages two major tennis facilities – Flamingo Park in South Beach and North Shore Tennis Center in Miami Beach. 

There are a number of other facilities headed under the different City of Miami Parks and Recreation Department division call (305/416-1308 or (305/419-2154) for more information. Most tennis centers charge a minimum fee; neighborhood tennis courts are free on a first come first serve basis.  

 

The Crandon Tennis Center is one of the country’s top public tennis centers, as a number of certified instructors provide visitors daily with individual private or semiprivate lessons. Since its 1987 opening, the center has achieved international status, due mostly to the fact that it hosts the annual Lipton Championships. In 1991, the United States Tennis Association chose the center for its Player Development Headquarters. The 45-acre USTA athletic facility seats 7,500 people and holds 17 hard courts, eight clay courts, and two grass courts. The facility is excellent for players of all levels to practice on different surfaces and utilize the center’s fitness development program. Along with the stadium’s 7,500 permanent seats, another 6,500 temporary seats can be added for tournaments like the Lipton.  

Held on Key Biscayne at the Crandon Park Tennis Center, the Ericsson Open is a tournament of top men and women tennis players competing for more than $5.7 million in prize money. The dream of the Ericsson Open began more than three decades ago, when renowned tennis players such as Jack Kramer, Frank Sedgman, Pancho Gonzalez, Pancho Segura and Butch Buchholz toured the country in a station wagon, playing tennis in darkened arenas and fairgrounds. It was before the days of open tennis, and they traveled with a portable canvas court and plenty of hopes. The first tournament turned out 84 of the top 100 men and 97 of the top 100 women. ESPN telecast the first weekend and the men's semifinals; ABC telecast the finals live. Networks from Australia, England, France, Italy, Japan, Sweden and West Germany also were present. Currently heading into its 16th year of showcasing world-class tennis, the Ericsson Open has earned its place in the world as the fifth largest tournament in prestige, prize money and attendance, surpassed only by the four Grand Slams. Games begin March 23—April 2. For more information visit www.ericsson-open.com.

 

Miami-Dade Park is one of the nicer parks in Miami Beach. Consisting of 12,000 acres of parkland, the area is home to 200 tennis courts. The courts are free to the public and are acquired on a first come first serve basis. The park is operated under the Miami-Dade Park and Recreation Department. The land also has eight golf courses, 19 swimming pools, baseball/softball fields, beaches, marinas, nature study areas and water sports. For more information visit www.co.miami-dade.fl.us/parks.com.  

The City of Miami Parks and Recreation Department operates three tennis centers and more than 50 tennis courts in the Greater Miami area. Tennis centers charge a minimum fee, but other tennis facilities are free. For information on facility locations call (305) 416-1308 or (305) 755-7857, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm.