Grand-Slam Stays: Best Tennis Resorts to Elevate Your Game

If you think tennis is just perfecting your topspin and finessing your volleys, think again: It’s also your passport to adventure. The sport is enjoyed and watched by millions around the world, and according to the United States Tennis Association, nearly 24 million Americans hit the courts in 2023 (4.8 million of them for very first time). Its global popularity means hotels and resorts are racket-ready and travelers are spoiled for choice when it comes to programs, clinics and expert instruction in some of the world’s most beautiful destinations. Whether you’re a fan, just want a rally with friends and family each evening, or you’re looking for a tournament tune-up, these 10 hotels and resorts will help you ace your vacation game.

Best Tennis Resorts: Our Top Picks

Hotel Puente Romano Beach Resort, Marbella, Spain

Spain’s glamorous town of Marbella, just 45 minutes from Málaga Airport, is not just a dreamy resort drenched in sunshine — it’s home to one of the most famous tennis clubs in southern Europe, opened by Bjorn Borg in 1979. Play where the likes of Novak Djokovic, John McEnroe and Serena Williams have graced the courts, and where the Davis Cup took place in 2018. For guests who want to get into the action, Puente Romano has 14 courts as well as a team of professional coaches available to improve your backhands and volleys. Set in an Andalusian village-style setting on the Mediterranean Sea, the beach resort has 274 rooms, suites and villas to get comfy in, plus multiple pools, golf and lush grounds. Dozens of restaurants and bars, including Nobu and Cipriani, make it an ideal something-for-everyone option.

The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón, Naples, Florida

Tucked among native wetlands and a migratory bird preserve, The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón, has 295 spacious rooms and suites. Its newly opened Mouratoglou Tennis Center is the first in Florida to partner with renowned tennis instructor Patrick Mouratoglou, who has worked with players such as Serena Williams and Coco Gauff. Ready to perfect your backhand or dial in your doubles strategy? The resort has an array of programs, including summer tennis camps, a kids’ program, weekend and holiday camps, and private group lessons held on four outdoor tennis courts. Families will also love the Reservoir waterpark with winding river and water slides, as well as the private poolside cabanas, onsite spa, nature walks and 27-hole Greg Norman-designed golf course.

Necker Island, British Virgin Islands

In search of a tennis escape fit for a billionaire? Sir Richard Branson’s private getaway tops the list, with world-class turf courts bordered by palm trees and Caribbean sea views. At certain times of year, guests can book individual rooms or villas and enjoy private pools, sandy beaches and all meals and drinks. A total buyout is also possible. Dedicated tennis pros can offer pointers with daily lessons and coaching. The 74-acre island also hosts the PRO-AM Necker Cup, a tennis competition usually held in November; past pro participants include legends such Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Bjorn Borg and Martina Navratilova, among many others.

Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, A Gurney’s Resort & Spa, Scottsdale, Arizona

Not only is Arizona‘s Camelback Mountain a premier hiking destination, it’s also a scenic backdrop for this resort that has tennis deep down in its roots. Known as the Paradise Valley Racquet Club throughout the 1950s and renamed John Gardiner’s Tennis Ranch in 1965, Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, A Gurney’s Resort & Spa, continues the legacy of championship training and play with professional coaching, year-round clinics and lessons for beginners and advanced players, and a location that’s just a short drive from the Phoenix airport, making midweek escapes and girls’ getaways a breeze. Stay in 110 casitas and suites, lounge by one of the three pools and indulge in a treatment at the Sanctuary Spa, with its indoor and outdoor treatment rooms and zen meditation garden.

The Mandarin Oriental, Canouan, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

The 26 suites and 21 villas on the white sands of Godahl Beach on this Caribbean isle raise the bar on luxury beach vacations, with modern design, impeccable Mandarin Oriental service and attention to detail around all of the resort’s 1,200 acres. The recently debuted Tipsarević Tennis Academy is named for former pro player Janko Tipsarević and led by coach Nikola Novčić. Guests can sign up for personalized lessons and can expect professional insight, strategic expertise and curated coaching. When not perfecting your inside-out forehand, take a guided island tour, book a spa appointment or snorkel in the pristine waters.

The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Kiawah Island, South Carolina

Located on a barrier island an hour south of charming Charleston, this resort lures future tennis stars (and their families) who want to indulge in Lowcountry hospitality while enjoying one of the world’s top tennis programs, the Barth-Hawtin Tennis Academy, offering intensive year-round coaching, strength conditioning and the latest methods in sports science for competitive juniors. The beachfront resort has 22 courts, including ten Har-Tru clay courts lit for night play, surrounded by the resort’s fragrant oleander, palmettos palms and vibrant flowers. Guests can choose from 255 well-appointed rooms or larger homes for multi-family gatherings. In 2024, readers of the leading online tennis travel website, TennisResortsOnline.com, named Kiawah Island Golf Resort among the top 10 tennis and pickleball resorts in the world. The property also has pools, dining, golf, a fitness center and a spa.

Cromlix, Stirlingshire, Scotland

A hotel owned by a tennis champion? Game, set, match! This 5-star Scotland estate opened by Grand Slam winner Andy Murray has an outdoor court that features an umpire chair from a match between Murray and fellow tennis great Roger Federer. Guests are welcome to borrow rackets any time to live out trophy-hoisting fantasies or sign up for professional coaching with a range of inclusive packages suited to all ages and abilities. Off the court, Cromlix offers delightful afternoon tea and a swish onsite bar. The Glasshouse restaurant, whose Scottish chef plucks ingredients from from the estate’s own kitchen garden, blooms with 25 types of edible flowers as well as numerous homegrown fruits, vegetables and herbs. Each of the 15 rooms and suites is named for flowers that grow on the estate’s 34 acres of woodland and landscaped grounds.

Saddlebrook Resort, Tampa, Florida

With 495 guest rooms and suites spread across 480 acres, just getting to dinner at this resort puts the “active” in vacation. But mention Saddlebrook to tennis fans and players, and eyes start to sparkle. Saddlebrook sets the standard for adult and junior tennis training and attracts racket warriors from around the globe to its 41 courts that include all four Grand Slam surfaces. Top ATP and WTA players have trained here, including Pete Sampras, Martina Hingis and Andy Roddick, and instruction can cater to champions in the making looking to train five hours a day; resort guests in search of a few sets a cardio tennis clinic; or a private sesh. Golf courses and a golf academy, spacious fitness centers and three swimming pools make this resort an athleisure all-star.

Verdura Resort, A Rocco Forte Hotel, Sicily

Tucked away in the northwest corner of the island, with 203 rooms and 20 private villas, this sublime 568-acre refuge brings all the dolce vita to travelers looking for a holiday filled with dining, wining, snorkeling, jet-skiing, cooking classes and golf, to name just a few of the activities that can keep you busy. The onsite Verdura Tennis & Paddle Club (open March to November) welcomes guests of all abilities to join classes, book private and group lessons, or play at their leisure on six outdoor clay courts. Want to get serious? Try out their 3-day tennis coaching program (book in advance), which can help beginners master the basics and savants finesse their lobs and drop shots.

Carmel Valley Ranch, Carmel, California

California’s jaw-dropping coastal beauty is just a few miles away from the 179 suites (each with fireplace and terrace) of this 500-acre summer-camp-like resort. Set in the green foothills near legendary Big Sur and Monterey, Carmel Valley Ranch is a love match for youth tennis players, with sessions ranging from privates, cardio tennis, stroke clinics and camps. The Junior Aces at Carmel Valley Ranch program offers year-round tennis programs for young players of all levels, from beginners to those aspiring to tournaments. On 10 courts, experienced coaches will fine-tune skills, build confidence and foster the fun of social games. Beyond the resort, guests can stroll the galleries and restaurants of Carmel-by-the-Sea, tee off at Pebble Beach Golf Links and taste wine in Santa Lucia Highlands, all within a 30-minute drive.

Relevant Links:

Browse all ideas for luxury family vacations on Ciao Bambino

12 luxury family hotel brands we love

Enjoy summer camp-style bonding at these 5 U.S. getaways

Game on! A sports-loving family’s guide to London

Pick your passion: Family vacation ideas for every interest

27 great vacation ideas for all types of teens

Editor’s note: This post was accurate when published. We advise checking independently for the latest information and updates. Ciao Bambino does not accept responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in, or for any actions taken based on, the information presented.