The Definitive Tennis Guide to Orlando, FL

Quick Guide for Visitors & New Residents

This section provides immediate answers and resources for those looking to get on the court quickly in Orlando.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How can I find hitting partners in Orlando?
Finding a hitting partner is straightforward thanks to a robust digital and social ecosystem. For on-demand matching, several apps are popular in the area. PlayYourCourt (playyourcourt.com) and TennisPAL (tennispal.com) allow players to filter by skill level (NTRP rating), location, and availability to find a suitable match.[1, 2] The Global Tennis Network (globaltennisnetwork.com) is another web-based platform with a large database of over 850 local players.[3] For a more social approach, the Orlando Tennis Meetup (meetup.com) hosts a popular, all-levels doubles mixer every Friday night at the Lake Cane Tennis Center.[4] The USTA National Campus also offers weekly "Open Social Play" events, where a pro helps organize pairings for drop-in players.[5]

As a visitor, what's the best way to book courts for a week?
Visitors have excellent access to top-tier public facilities. The best approach is to book courts on an hourly, non-resident basis. The USTA National Campus (ustanationalcampus.com) is the premier option, offering hourly rentals on its Plexicushion hard courts ($20/hour) and Har-Tru green clay courts ($24/hour).[6] Other fantastic choices include the Orlando Tennis Centre (orlando.gov), which allows non-members to play for a daily fee of $12 per player, though court reservations are not permitted for non-members.[7, 8] The Winter Park Tennis Center (cityofwinterpark.org) allows non-residents to book its 16 courts up to 24 hours in advance for a fee of $10 per person per hour.[9]

How can I join private or group lessons?
Joining lessons is simple for players of any level. The USTA National Campus (ustanationalcampus.com) is a great starting point, offering a free 30-minute introductory session for new players to receive personalized tips and program recommendations.[10] From there, players can join a wide range of adult clinics and programs. For more focused instruction, Orlando has several dedicated academies. Elite Tennis Academy (elite-tennisacademy.com) offers private lessons for $75 per hour with its experienced director, Bob Newsome.[11] Central Florida Tennis Academy (centralfloridatennisacademy.setmore.com) provides both private ($60-$65/hr) and group lessons, with the flexibility of training at their court or a player's home court.[12] The Orlando Tennis Centre also runs structured six-week clinics for beginner, intermediate, and advanced players.[13]

As a 2.0-4.0 player, how do I find others at my level?
Connecting with players of a similar skill level is a core feature of Orlando's tennis community. Digital platforms like TennisPAL (tennispal.com) and PlayYourCourt (playyourcourt.com) use the NTRP rating system as a primary filter, making it easy to find and connect with players specifically in the 2.0 to 4.0 range.[1, 2] For organized play, USTA Florida's social and competitive leagues are structured by NTRP level.[14] The USTA National Campus hosts regular drop-in doubles match play sessions that are specifically segmented by skill level, such as a "3.0-4.0" group, ensuring balanced and enjoyable competition.[5] While the Orlando Tennis Meetup (meetup.com) is an "all-levels" event, the organizers match players into groups based on ability on-site, making it another excellent option.[4]

Why Orlando is a Premier Tennis Destination

For the avid tennis traveler—one who packs their racquets before their swim trunks and seeks out local communities—Orlando offers more than just a place to play. It presents a deliberately curated, world-class tennis ecosystem. The city has transcended being a location with good weather and courts to become a global destination branded as the "Home of American Tennis".[15]

The cornerstone of this identity is the USTA National Campus. The United States Tennis Association's $63 million, 64-acre investment in the Lake Nona community was a strategic decision to centralize American tennis development, and its impact radiates throughout the city.[16] This facility is not an exclusive training ground for elites; it is fundamentally public-facing, welcoming players of all ages and abilities to experience its 100 courts.[15] For a visitor, this means having the rare opportunity to play on a variety of professional-grade surfaces, from Plexicushion hard courts and Har-Tru green clay to authentic European red clay courts—a surface variety unavailable to the public in almost any other American city.[15]

This institutional anchor creates a powerful self-reinforcing cycle. The world-class facility attracts professional tournaments like the ATP Challenger Tour's Orlando Open and the prestigious NCAA Division I, II, and III National Championships.[17, 18] This, in turn, draws top professional players like Frances Tiafoe, Jessica Pegula, and former world No. 1 Jim Courier to make Orlando their residence and training base.[19, 20, 21] The presence of this high-level talent elevates the entire local tennis culture, attracting top coaches, aspiring juniors, and a constant stream of competitive events.

For the traveling player, this translates into a multi-faceted experience. One can spend the morning taking a clinic on a red clay court at the USTA campus, the afternoon watching a collegiate national championship match, and the evening joining a vibrant social mixer with local players at a facility like Lake Cane.[4, 10] The city's robust tourism infrastructure ensures that finding accommodations and navigating the area is seamless, with many tennis centers conveniently located near major attractions.[22] Ultimately, a tennis trip to Orlando is an immersion into a city that has intentionally built itself into a paradise for the sport, offering unparalleled opportunities to play, learn, compete, and connect.

A Brief History of Orlando Tennis

Orlando's identity as a tennis hub is not a recent phenomenon; it is built on a rich history of hosting significant tournaments and fostering the sport's growth for nearly a century. The original Orlando Tennis Centre, for instance, was in use from 1932 until its state-of-the-art replacement was built.[7]

As early as the 1930s and 1940s, the city was a key stop on the professional circuit. The Florida State Open Championships, a major international tournament founded in 1910, was held in Orlando for numerous years between 1936 and 1972, attracting top players of the era.[23] In 1942, the city hosted the inaugural Orlando Professional Championships at the Orlando Tennis Club, an event that saw legends like Pancho Gonzales and Rod Laver compete in later editions during the 1960s.[24]

The city's importance in the sport's governance grew over time. In 1985, Orlando's own Marian Green was named the first woman president of the Florida Tennis Association (now USTA Florida), a significant milestone for the organization.[25] This long history of competition and leadership laid the groundwork for the modern era, culminating in the USTA's decision to establish its national headquarters in Orlando, cementing the city's legacy as a true center for American tennis.[26]

The Orlando Tennis Community: Getting Connected

The true strength of Orlando's tennis scene lies in its accessible and multi-layered community. For new residents and visitors, integrating into this network is facilitated by a wide array of digital tools, social groups, and organized leagues that cater to every type of player.

Finding Hitting Partners: From Apps to Meetups

Orlando provides a clear pathway for player integration, moving from on-demand digital connections to immersive social events. This structure allows newcomers to engage at their own comfort level, whether they are seeking a single competitive match or a new group of regular hitting partners.

Digital Matchmaking Platforms

• PlayYourCourt: Billing itself as the "fastest growing Orlando tennis community," this platform is a comprehensive tool for finding evenly matched practice partners and competitive matches. It also integrates access to a network of over 4,000 coaches for lessons.[1]
• TennisPAL: This dedicated tennis app allows users to find and connect with players by filtering for skill level (NTRP), age, gender, and proximity. It features in-app chat and a court finder, with both free and premium subscription tiers available.[2, 27]
• Global Tennis Network: This web platform boasts a large user base in Orlando, with over 850 listed players. It offers detailed search filters, including its own Global Tennis Network Rating (GTNR), to help find the perfect partner.[3]
• Other Digital Tools: Apps like Tennis League Network and TennisCall also offer services for finding partners and courts in the area.[28, 29]

Social Groups and Meetups

• Orlando Tennis Meetup: This is arguably the most prominent social group, hosting a weekly Friday Early Evening Tennis Mixer at the Lake Cane Tennis Center. The event is open to all skill levels and follows a round-robin doubles format, making it an ideal way to meet dozens of local players at once. The cost is $10 per person to cover court fees, and many attendees socialize at a nearby restaurant afterward.[4]
• SouthWest Orlando Tennis (SWOT): Another highly active Meetup group, SWOT organizes regular events like its "Monday Night Tennis," providing consistent opportunities for play in the southwest part of the city.[30, 31]
• The OBTA Tennis Round Robin: This group focuses specifically on hosting drop-in doubles round-robin events, offering another structured format for social competition. It is part of the Orange Blossom Tennis Association, an LGBTQ+ league.[30, 32]

Joining the Action: Leagues for Every Player

Orlando’s league structure, predominantly organized by USTA Florida, offers a spectrum of playing opportunities, from highly competitive, season-long leagues with a path to national championships to flexible, stress-free social play.

Competitive USTA Leagues

As the country's largest recreational tennis league, the USTA League system is the backbone of competitive adult tennis in Orlando.[14] The process for joining is standardized:

1. Find a League: Players can use the USTA Florida website's Local Play Directory to find leagues operating in Orange County.[14]
2. Become a USTA Member: A current USTA membership is required to participate in league play.[14]
3. Self-Rate: New players must complete a self-rate questionnaire to obtain a National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) rating. This ensures level-based play, where a 3.5 player competes against other 3.5s, creating fair and enjoyable matches.[14]

USTA Florida offers a diverse menu of league formats to accommodate different ages and playing preferences, including Adult Leagues (18+, 40+, 55+, 65+), Mixed Doubles, Combo Leagues, and Tri-Level Leagues.[14]

Social & Flexible Play

Recognizing that not every player wants a season-long commitment, Orlando offers excellent options for more casual, drop-in style league play.

• USTA Florida Social Leagues: These are designed to be "stress-free, fun, and social." They are typically organized in shorter 4-6 week sessions or as one-time events.[14]
• USTA National Campus Social Play: The campus itself is a hub for flexible play. It hosts weekly Open Social Play and Doubles Match Play events, often segmented by NTRP level.[5]

LGBTQ+ Community: The Orange Blossom Tennis Association

Orlando is home to a vibrant and welcoming LGBTQ+ tennis community, anchored by the Orange Blossom Tennis Association (OBTA). The OBTA's mission is to provide a healthy and positive atmosphere for players of all backgrounds to enjoy recreational and competitive tennis.[32] As the central Florida division of the Gay and Lesbian Tennis Alliance (GLTA), it connects local players to a global network of tournaments and events.[32, 33]

The OBTA's flagship event is a drop-in doubles round robin held every Sunday morning at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs.[32] The event is open to all players, welcoming a range of skill levels from NTRP 2.5 to 4.5. For a $10 fee, players can enjoy a casual warm-up followed by several rounds of mixed-partner doubles, with many participants gathering for a social lunch afterward.[32]

Senior Play

The Orlando area offers robust opportunities for senior players to stay active and competitive. USTA Florida organizes Adult/Senior Age Division Tournaments across the state, with categories for players in five-year increments from 55 & Over up to 90 & Over.[34] For highly competitive senior men, the Super Senior Grand Prix is a series of tournaments for players 55 and over that attracts top talent from around the country and internationally.[34] Additionally, USTA Leagues feature dedicated age brackets for 55 & Over and 65 & Over competition, with pathways to sectional and national championship events.[14, 35]

Key Organizations: USTA Florida

The driving force behind organized tennis in the state is USTA Florida (ustaflorida.com), the official regional section of the United States Tennis Association.[36] For any player in Orlando, understanding its role is key to unlocking the full breadth of the local tennis scene. USTA Florida directly manages the competitive and social league systems, providing the framework for thousands of players to compete.[14] Its website is an indispensable resource, featuring a "Places to Play Directory" and a "Local Play Directory" that help players find facilities and programs in their specific area.[14]

Where to Play: A Comprehensive Court Directory

Orlando offers an exceptional variety and quantity of tennis courts, from the world's largest tennis facility to dozens of neighborhood parks. Whether a player seeks the perfection of a clay court, the convenience of a lighted hard court, or the exclusivity of a private club, the options are plentiful.

The Crown Jewel: USTA National Campus

At the heart of Orlando's tennis landscape is the USTA National Campus (ustanationalcampus.com), a facility of staggering scale and quality that is open to the public. Located at 10000 USTA Boulevard in the Lake Nona community, this 64-acre campus is the official "Home of American Tennis" and serves as the headquarters for USTA's Player Development and Community Tennis initiatives.[16, 15]

The campus features 100 fully lit courts, offering a surface for every preference [10]:

• 32 Plexicushion hard courts
• 32 Har-Tru green clay courts
• 16 ReBound Ace short courts (for youth play)
• 8 DecoTurf acrylic cushion courts
• 6 European Terre Davis red clay courts
• 6 ReBound Ace indoor courts [15]

Beyond the courts, the campus is a full-service destination with a welcome center, a pro shop, and the Racquet Bar, which offers expert stringing and customization services.[15, 37]

Premier Public Tennis Centers

While the National Campus is the main attraction, Orlando and its neighboring municipalities operate several other large-scale, high-quality public tennis centers that serve as vital community hubs.

Community & Regional Park Courts

For players seeking convenient, no-frills tennis, a wide network of courts is available in smaller community and regional parks throughout the Greater Orlando area. These courts are often free and operate on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Sanlando Park (Altamonte Springs): A massive facility with 25 hard courts, often used for major tournaments.[22]
• Red Bug Lake Park (Casselberry): Features 16 hard courts and is conveniently located between the USTA Campus and Altamonte Springs.[22]
• Blue Jacket Park (Orlando): Located in Baldwin Park, this facility has 3 public courts.[7, 40]
• Sylvan Lake Park (Sanford): A well-regarded park in Seminole County with 9 hard courts.[22]

Private Clubs & Resort Tennis

For those desiring a more exclusive environment with member-focused programming and amenities, Orlando is home to several private country clubs and resorts with exceptional tennis offerings.

• Country Club of Orlando: This historic club offers a premier tennis experience with 12 meticulously maintained Har-Tru clay courts and a full calendar of events for members.[41]
• Reunion Resort: This luxury resort features a first-class tennis complex with 6 lighted hydro-grid courts. Access is typically tied to a resort club membership.[42]

Elevate Your Game: Lessons & Coaching

Orlando's status as a tennis hub extends to its instructional landscape. From beginners picking up a racquet for the first time to high-performance juniors with professional aspirations, the city offers a deep roster of coaches, clinics, and academies.

Programs at Major Centers

• USTA National Campus: Offers the most comprehensive programming, from recreational to competitive, including a high-performance academy. A standout feature is the free 30-minute introductory session for new players.[10]
• Orlando Tennis Centre: Provides affordable and accessible instruction through its adult and youth tennis clinics, typically run in six-week sessions.[13]
• Winter Park Tennis Center: Tennis programming and instruction are managed by High Performance Sports Management (HPSM), which offers programs for both youth and adults.[9]

High-Performance Academies & Private Coaches

• Elite Tennis Academy: Directed by Bob Newsome, a USPTA-certified professional with over 30 years of coaching experience. Offers private lessons for $75 per hour.[11]
• Central Florida Tennis Academy: Led by Head Coaches Enrique and Francisco, this academy offers private lessons (priced around $60-$65 per hour) and group lessons at their home base or will travel to a client's court.[12]
• Orlando Tennis Academy: This academy focuses heavily on junior development, with high-performance training and a variety of summer camps.[43]

Gear Up: Pro Shops & Services

A top-tier tennis city requires top-tier support services, and Orlando delivers with specialty retail stores and world-class racquet technicians.

Specialty Tennis Retailers

• TennisPlaza: Located on International Drive, this is the premier destination for the serious tennis player, offering a "world-class selection" of equipment, apparel, and shoes from every major brand. They also offer a racquet demo program and same-day stringing.[44, 45]
• DICK'S Sporting Goods: With multiple locations, DICK'S is a reliable source for general sporting goods, carrying a solid assortment of footwear, apparel, and entry-to-intermediate level racquets.[46]
• Pro Shops at Tennis Centers: Most major centers, including the USTA National Campus and Orlando Tennis Centre, have on-site pro shops.[15, 7]
• Tennis Warehouse: For online shopping, Tennis Warehouse is the leading retailer with an exhaustive inventory.[47]

Racquet Stringing & Customization

The quality of racquet servicing in Orlando is exceptionally high, anchored by the standard of excellence at the USTA National Campus.

The Expert's Choice: USTA National Campus Racquet Bar

Located within the Welcome Center, the Racquet Bar (ustaproshop.com) is a full-service stringing and customization headquarters operating at a tournament-caliber level.[37] Services include same-day stringing ($25 labor plus string cost) and professional racquet matching. The manager, Sean Prokes, has strung for legends like Andre Agassi and Maria Sharapova at Grand Slam events.[37]

Other Local Options

• TennisPlaza: The Orlando store provides same-day stringing performed by USRSA-certified staff, including Master Racquet Technicians (MRTs).[44]
• Independent Stringers: The Global Tennis Network directory lists other local options, including Racquet Quest, LLC in Casselberry and E-Tennis in Winter Park.[48]

The Pro Scene: Spectator Tennis & Local Legends

Orlando's vibrant tennis culture provides numerous opportunities for fans to watch high-level competition and is home to some of the sport's biggest names.

Professional & Collegiate Tournaments

• Orlando Open: An ATP Challenger Tour event held at the USTA National Campus, featuring players ranked in the top 50-200 in the world. Past champions include Jenson Brooksby and Brandon Nakashima.[17]
• NCAA Tennis Championships: The USTA National Campus has become the home for collegiate tennis's biggest events, having hosted all six divisional championships (Divisions I, II, and III) in the same year.[18]
• UCF Knights Tennis: The University of Central Florida's men's and women's teams play their home matches at the USTA National Campus, with admission typically free.[18, 49]

Orlando's Tennis Notables

The world-class facilities and ideal training conditions have made Orlando a magnet for professional tennis players.

Current Residents and Trainees:

• Frances Tiafoe: A top-10 ATP player and US Open semifinalist, Tiafoe resides in Orlando and trains at the USTA National Campus.[20, 21]
• Jim Courier: The former world No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam champion is a longtime Orlando resident, born in nearby Sanford.[19, 50]
• Jessica Pegula & Jennifer Brady: These top American WTA players also use the USTA National Campus as a primary training base.[21]
• Jeff Salzenstein: A former top-100 ATP player, Salzenstein also makes his home in Orlando.[51]
• The Next Generation: Top junior players like Jordan Lee train at the USTA National Campus, solidifying its role as a cradle for future talent.