A guide to playing tennis
Some of Manhattan’s tennis courts for evening play are free and some let you turn up and play, while some need booking first.
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Manhattan
Roosevelt Island Racquet Club has twelve indoor Har-Tru clay courts for year-round tennis. The club offers adult and junior programs, coaching and an early-morning drop-in session.
Frederick Johnson Tennis Courts has eight public outdoor tennis courts in Harlem: four asphalt/hard and four labeled Mondo synthetic by NYC Parks. The Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program manages tennis operations here. Locally known as The Jungle, it serves neighborhood players.
Octagon Tennis Courts on Roosevelt Island is operated by RIOC and has six courts. Reservations are open to residents and non-residents in one-hour slots.
Yorkville Tennis Club on York Avenue in Manhattan has two indoor hard courts and does not require membership. Lessons and hourly court use are offered.
Riverbank State Park in Harlem has four outdoor hard tennis courts on its elevated riverside park deck above the Hudson.
Tennis courts lie within John V. Lindsay East River Park on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. The waterfront park has undergone major flood-protection reconstruction, so check whether tennis play has resumed.
A single outdoor hardcourt tucked into Washington Market Park in Tribeca, a leafy neighborhood park run by NYC Parks. It's a walk-up, permit-based court for locals wanting a straightforward game near the waterfront rather than a polished club experience.
A historic private tennis club perched on a rooftop in the heart of Manhattan, founded in 1954 by tennis champions Sidney Wood and Don Budge. It has hosted countless tennis legends over the decades, and today it pairs its courts with indoor dining, an outdoor terrace, a gym, and locker rooms with sauna and steam rooms for members.
We list 8 venues in Manhattan, including Roosevelt Island Racquet Club - Advantage Tennis Clubs, Frederick Johnson Tennis Courts and Octagon Tennis Courts.
Of these venues, 3 allow walk-in use and 3 require booking. Each venue page shows how to book.
Yes. Of these venues, 2 can be used free of charge; each venue page lists the conditions.