There is something supremely beautiful about the tennis court: the grit of har-tru beneath white sneakers, the soft landings on cut grass, the clean contrast of white lines against red clay. Whether you’re there to play, watch, or simply admire, the simple pleasures of the sport are always enthralling.
And now, an entire global travel economy has emerged around 2.1 ounces of yellow fuzz. And with the 2024 US Open drawing the strongest visitor numbers in its history, interest in the sport is at an all-time high. Hotels around the world are investing in their tennis offerings, varying from annual tournaments to exclusive fashion collections to high-end wellness amenities—and the rising global fascination with tennis is undeniable.
Below, find a list of Vogue’s best tennis hotels in the world, whether you’re looking for scenic courts, robust programming, chic fashion partnerships, or sessions with the pros. Love-love!
Round Hill Hotel and Villas
Up a rocky promontory dense with tropical foliage in Montego Bay, Round Hill Hotel and Villas is a historic Jamaican property that exudes timeless character, elegance, and a strong national identity. The storied estate famously hosted John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy on their honeymoon, John Lennon, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and is also home to Ralph Lauren’s two private villas.
While the aphorism “if these walls could talk” certainly applies to Round Hill, what if their rackets could talk? The resort enjoys three har-tru and two hard courts, all flanked by dreamy cliffside villas, swaying palm trees, and banana bunches hanging heavy over the courts’ perimeters. The Caribbean seabreeze, soft reggae, and symphony of synchronized frogs make for a glorious surround sound climate, where tennis lessons come with experienced pros and obliging ball boys. Round Hill also hosts an annual tennis tournament for more competitive players, offering guests the chance to play with tennis champions like Bianca Andreescu and Kevin Anderson. Post-game relaxation always follows during daily high tea held in the hotel’s cocktail bar, tastefully designed by Ralph Lauren.
Rancho Valencia Resort Spa
At Rancho Valencia, it’s always tennis time. Located just outside San Diego, Rancho Valencia is the epicenter of country club California cool. The resort is a terracotta, tile, and adobe dream, where tennis is more than just an amenity; it’s a raison d’être. Guests come to play, arriving in Bentleys and Tesla Cybertrucks with designer tennis bags in tow. Rancho Valencia’s beautifully appointed tennis facilities include 13 plexipave courts, three European clay courts, a pro shop with state-of-the-art equipment, professional tennis tournaments playing on TV, and spectator seating to view matches.
Whether you’re a local or a traveler on a SoCal sojourn, visitors come to this tennis-forward Relais Châteaux hotel to live out their hacienda fantasies while partaking in instructional play from top coaches in the region. The tennis courts are situated in a desert oasis flooded with pink bougainvillea, birds of paradise, citrus trees, olive groves, and persimmon bushes. When not volleying on the courts or participating in Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy clinics, guests enjoy the spa, cold plunge, pilates classes, and meals in the Pony Room, a lively dining room with handsomely designed equestrian décor.
Cromlix Hotel
In recent years, a crop of tennis champions have opened their own hotels across Europe, offering travelers a glimpse into the creative minds of their favorite athletes. A standout example is Cromlix Hotel in Stirlingshire, Scotland. Owned by Grand Slam winner Andy Murray, a stay at this regal Scottish countryside estate will be as close to playing Wimbledon as most will ever get. The tennis court on-property is painted in Wimbledon’s signature colors, offers Cromlix-branded tennis balls, and features the umpire chair from a match Murray played against Roger Federer in Glasgow.
The Scottish hotel emits a sense of nobility: the Victorian mansion dates back to 1874, with stately suites ideal for cottagecore dressing and manicured grounds for parading in a trench coat and rain boots. For Andy, running the intimate hotel is also a family affair—his mother Judy is the tennis coach, his wife Kim oversees the interior design, and his own wedding reception was held on the estate. When the weather isn’t conducive to tennis, guests can indulge in lochs or libations, exploring the surrounding woodlands or enjoying a tipple with shortbread (Andy’s grandmother’s recipe!)
Bawah Reserve
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For a private island retreat filled with natural wonders, high-end service, and extreme seclusion, Bawah Reserve in the Anambas archipelago of Indonesia delivers in spades. Vacation schedules here revolve around spa treatments and tidal timetables, where a sunrise kayak quickly turns into sundowner cocktails on island time. Bawah Reserve’s most recent opening is the Elang Private Residence, a private island fantasy proffering all the amenities of a five-star hotel. A stay at the illustrious Elang feels like a private members-only club for in-the-know travelers. Elang comes with exclusive access to six cliffside lodges, a private spa, butler service, world-class chefs, and a tennis court.
The resort has two grass courts, one on the resort’s main hotel island and another on Elang. The pristine courts are remarkable for their remote setting, isolated in the South China Sea far from any mainland. There’s no need to pack rackets and balls on the seaplane ride over, as Bawah Reserve will provide all equipment, and can then arrange for a post-match afternoon tea. Playing tennis at Bawah Reserve feels like one of the most exclusive and secluded experiences in the world—perfect for practicing endless serves in paradise.
ÉPI Baie de Pampelonne
Pulling up to ÉPI Baie de Pampelonne along Ramatuelle beach can be disorienting. Once you pass through the hotel gates, gone are the Côte d’Azur summer crowds, beach discos, and Saint-Tropez megayachts. What’s left is a serene, bohemian members-only club with poolside bungalows, Thom Browne’s Tennis Pro Shop, and two John McEnroe-sponsored red clay tennis courts. McEnroe himself can be found playing tennis in the summer, though a local pro is always on-site to coach hotel guests on their single or double-handed backhands.
For fashion enthusiasts, Thom Browne’s boutique is also a top draw, serving as the designer’s first standalone retail footprint in France. The gray subway tiled store with signature red, white, and blue stripes down the floor features the label’s classic suiting, plus athletic wear and limited-edition Thom Browne goods only found at ÉPI. For a luxurious beach getaway—and quite possibly the chicest tennis outfits in Saint-Tropez—a stay at ÉPI and a visit to the Thom Browne pro shop are a must.
Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne
For year-round tennis without concern for the elements, Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne firmly delivers. Situated 500 meters above the breathtaking Lake Lucerne in Switzerland, this impressive resort with multiple hotels, residences, restaurants, spas, and even a chapel where Audrey Hepburn wedded Mel Ferrer. For an Alpine region that faces snowy winters and rainy summers, tennis is not an obvious sport. That’s where Bürgenstock’s Diamond Domes tennis courts shine.
Two of the three symmetrically arranged hard courts are enclosed in a wooden roof resembling a honeycomb or phylloplane. The third court, which is outdoors, is converted into an ice skating rink in the winter. Tennis virtuosos have the opportunity to hit aces regardless of weather on the burnt sienna courts, and can participate in expert coaching coordinated by LUX Tennis and Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy. If playing tennis inside an architectural marvel isn’t distracting enough, all three courts face sweeping views of the Swiss Alps. A match at Bürgenstock Resort can feel like playing tennis inside a life-size snow globe.
Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc
The pinnacle of luxury in Antibes is the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc. Guests of the glamorous hotel return year after year for rooftop cocktails overlooking the Bay of Cannes, fine dining restaurants, expansive gardens, Slim Aarons-photographed saltwater swimming pool, and extravagant parties. But a stay at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc would be incomplete without a game of tennis on one of the hotel’s five carefully maintained red clay tennis courts.
Set among Aleppo pines and olive trees, the courts are available for play all summer and can be booked with or without a lesson. Earlier this year, the legendary South of France hotel debuted a capsule collection with Lacoste, so players (like Venus Williams, who flew in for the launch) can look their best in tennis whites. A perfect day in the French Riviera could look like a morning stroll along Antibes’s ramparts, followed by a tennis lesson at the hotel’s clay courts, then a dip in the sea.
Amanzoe
If Maria Sharapova and Novak Djokovic are involved with a hotel, then you know it carries some serious tennis clout. Amanzoe, located in the Peloponnese peninsula, is a contemporary resort with architectural nods to Greek acropolises. The Greek property’s two hilltop tennis courts are surrounded by cypress and olive trees, where LUX Tennis pros offer lessons for adults and children alike.
And while a spa treatment, reflexology therapy, or yoga class may be what first spring to mind when you hear the word wellness, Amanzoe is making the case for tennis as part of that lineup too. In summer 2024, Amanzoe hosted a wellness retreat with Sharapova, focused on building mental resilience and physical stamina. (Naturally, a head-to-head tennis clinic with Sharapova was included.) Aman also recently appointed Djokovic as their first global wellness advisor, meaning more wellness and tennis-related product offerings are to come. For winding down after a tennis match at Amanzoe, there’s swimming in the Aegean Sea, luxuriating in the palatial villas (one of which has a Sky Space by artist James Turrell), and dining at the hotel’s restaurants. Game-set-match!
High Hampton Resort
In America’s Blue Ridge Mountains, where sloped forests carpet undulating Appalachian peaks, a reinvigorated historic inn called High Hampton Resort welcomes discerning travelers. The luxe North Carolina hotel is sought after for its seasonal outdoor activities, scenic golf course, breathtaking nature hikes, and haute high-country cuisine. But in-the-know athletes visit for a round of tennis on their four har-tru courts or one hard court.
After the team behind acclaimed Blackberry Farm took ownership several years ago, High Hampton debuted its new tennis program under the direction of Andy Roddick, who owns a nearby home with Brooklyn Decker. Nestled aside a dahlia garden and in view of a sheer mountainside cliff, the five tennis courts (and six pickleball courts!) offer an ideal setting for playing outdoors sets in the crisp mountain air. Instructional play, group clinics, or rallying at the net for some friendly competition are all encouraged. What’s the best way to enjoy tennis at High Hampton? By renting a cottage on the property with friends for a tennis retreat, an invigorating panacea for the increasingly connected and digital world we live in.
Tortuga Bay
Oscar de la Renta may be a household name in American fashion, but a lesser known project of the late designer is his involvement with Tortuga Bay, a luxury hotel in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. De la Renta’s creative direction can be felt throughout the resort, ranging from the Bamboo Restaurant design to sophisticated villa interiors to the Oscar de la Renta Tennis Center, which counts 12 courts total: one grass, one hard, one har-tru, and nine clay.
The Oscar de la Renta Tennis Center hosts tennis clinics, camps, tournaments, and private lessons, all of which can be taken advantage of if staying at Tortuga Bay. Plus, a new partnership with LUX Tennis is expected to enhance the resort’s athletic offerings even further. After a rigorous tennis match, guests can return by golf cart to relax at the pool or on the picturesque palm tree-dotted beach. Enjoying the soft hum of Caribbean waves lapping the shores at Tortuga Bay is a splendid post-tennis wellness treatment in and of itself.