There are some truly remarkable tennis stadiums around the world, and some people enjoy going to tournaments simply to catch a glimpse of the sport. Out of all the venues, what are the best tennis stadiums in the world?
10. Court Suzanne Lenglen
The second biggest court at the French Open still seats plenty of people to bring in for big matches. With just over 10,000 people filling the stadium up during the first part of the tournament, there are always a few big matches there every year.
The one drawback to the stadium is that there is not as much room to move around behind the baseline. Having as much room as possible with players on clay courts is always beneficial to chase down balls. It would be nice to see them make a change, but that’s likely not going to happen any time soon.
9. Monte Carlo Country Club
The stadium is not only high-end, but it has one of the best views a person can ever ask for.
Few tournaments are held at a relatively small country club, but Monte Carlo has the perfect location for people to be very drawn into. The stadium might have the best location in all of tennis currently.
8. Wimbledon No 1 Court
Wimbledon was finally able to put a retractable roof on the No. 1 Court in 2019. That was great news for a tournament that always seems to be stopped by weather at some point.
Like a lot of Grand Slams, the second-best court on the grounds gets plenty of action during the first week of the tournament. Fans can get a closer look at some of the best players in the world, and the crowd is usually a bit easier to hear overall. It still has a lot of the quirks of Centre Court, but just slightly smaller in size.
7. O2 Arena
The atmosphere at the O2 Arena might not be the best, but it still deserves mention on this list as being the host of the ATP World Tour Finals. In 2020, they hosted their last World Tour Finals for a while, but the plan is to use this arena for other tennis tournaments as well.
Of course, O2 Arena is not just a tennis facility. That’s part of the reason why it probably is not higher on this list. It does a great job as a tennis venue, but it’s rarely 100% packed.
6. Indian Wells Tennis Garden- Stadium 1
There is a considerable difference between the US Open and Indian Wells in the United States. While the US Open can get pretty loud and raucous at times, Indian Wells is a much more reserved tournament with a lot more space to work with in general. Some people like that, and if that’s the case, Stadium 1 is the place to be.
Seating over 16,000, it is a very nice stadium located in the middle of the desert in California. During that time of year, the weather is pretty pleasant in the area, making it a great place for fans to watch. Players all seem to really love Indian Wells, making it one of the more popular non-grand slam tournaments.
5. Louis Armstrong Stadium
There is not a second stadium at a Grand Slam event better overall than Louis Armstrong Stadium. Not only do fans get a chance to see a pretty good match during the fortnight, but it has outstanding seating for a second stadium as well.
With over 14,000 seats, anyone with a ticket can take advantage of seeing a match by getting one of the general admission spots. It’s first come first serve, and is a great value at the US Open in general. The US Open decided to put a retractable roof on Louis Armstrong Stadium as well, which helps keep play moving.
4. Rod Laver Arena
Rod Laver Arena is the showcase court at the Australian Open each year. Like the other Grand Slams, it is an outdoor arena, but it does have a retractable roof for when weather gets poor. This is great news to keep the fans engaged, and make it one of the best team atmospheres out there.
Many people are blown away by how Rod Laver Arena has evolved over the years. They have made it so that there’s no poor seat in the stadium, and getting the roof closed is a very fast process. The shade inside is also nice for fans, as the Australian summers can get pretty hot during the tournament.
3. Court Phillippe Chatrier
The atmosphere at the French Open is a little more subdued than the other three majors. That doesn’t mean that Court Philip Chatrier does not get crazy at times, but it’s not exactly the same as in New York City, Melbourne, or London.
One thing that does help out at Roland Garros is that it is a fairly intimate setting, despite seating over 15,000. Seats are very close to each other, and it feels smaller than the numbers would suggest. Of course, seeing it hosts the biggest names in the sport, that helps make the atmosphere a little bit better as well.
2. Arthur Ashe Stadium
Many would say that Arthur Ashe Stadium is the most electric tennis stadium in the entire world. It is true that when there is a night match at the US Open, it can get very rowdy as fans get into the match and pull for their preferred player.
The biggest stadium for tennis in the world seats over 23,000, and it now has a retractable roof so that there are never any major delays. That all equates to one of the best spots out there, and many would argue it’s the greatest of them all.
1. Wimbledon Centre Court
There is no court in all of tennis that is as instantly recognizable as Centre Court at Wimbledon. This is where some of the most iconic matches in the history of the sport have taken place, and the history alone makes it one of the greatest sports venues in the world.
The Wimbledon Championships is regarded as the No.1 tennis tournament in the world and the centre court has a huge part of making it so special.
There is a very unique feel to Wimbledon in general, but Centre Court is always just a little bit different. As the tournament progresses, the court starts to get worn out in the most traveled areas. This means that there are bad bounces from time to time, but players have to go through and not let that worry them too much.
A recent change to Centre Court at Wimbledon is the addition of a retractable roof. Rain can no longer postpone tournaments, which is great news for fans and players. Since it rains so often in England, having this setup helps.
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