The world’s best tennis hotels
As the Wimbledon Championships and US Open among other tennis tournaments unfold, our enthusiasm for the summer sport reaches fever pitch. Inspired by the stars of the court, more travellers are making tennis a part of their holiday, with one resort on this list of sporting hotels revealing that it hosted more than 900 hours of tennis lessons in August 2023 alone.
World-renowned tennis clubs and sports academies that are the regular haunts of tennis professionals play a starring role at these coastal, mountain-backed and forest-enshrouded places to stay. Take to the court, maybe even practise your swing with a sporting legend, before kicking back and enjoying gastronomic restaurants, panoramic pools and rejuvenating spas in spectacularly scenic locations across the world.
Zel Costa Brava, Spain
Zel Costa Brava opened in summer 2024 and is the second property from Melià Hotels and tennis legend Rafael Nadal. Tennis is naturally a cornerstone of this coastal retreat, which is scenically set on the forested cliff-side above the sandy shores of Cala Pola and Cala de Giverola. As many as nine tennis courts lie amid the verdant greenery, with opportunities for improving your performance or picking up the sport as a new skill. In addition to tennis, other sporting pursuits abound, from cycling to hockey and water polo, with a spa and pool also joining the beach-side dining spots and inviting Mediterranean-style suites in this scenic setting.
Doubles from £119 (00 34 972 34 00 00; melia.com)
Cromlix, Scotland
Tennis isn’t the only draw of this Victorian manor house hotel in the Stirlingshire countryside, but it’s certainly a reason for sports enthusiasts to make the journey. Owned by Kim and Andy Murray, the lavishly decorated historic hotel gives guests the opportunity to take private and group tennis lessons with a local coach, and sign up for occasional tennis and pickleball clinics held by Judy Murray – although these sell out quickly. The hotel’s Championship Package pairs a night at the hotel with a private tennis or pickleball lesson, post-match strawberries and cream and other treats including Cromlix branded tennis balls.
Doubles from £315; championship package from £582 (01786 820310; cromlix.com) Read the full review.
Curtain Bluff, Antigua
Significant tennis tournaments such as Antigua Tennis Week and Tennis Challenge Week are held on the championship courts of this sprawling beach resort, which spans white-sand shores and a rocky promontory on the south side of the Caribbean island of Antigua. The resort’s highly regarded tennis centre, where professional players such as Fred Stolle frequent the courts, encompasses a pro shop and four championship hard courts, which are also lit for night play, with private lessons available. Only the palm-lined shores separate these courts and the sea, with an array of other sporting facilities joining the resort’s beach restaurants and Caribbean coastal-inspired rooms.
Doubles from £580 (00 1 268 462 8400; curtainbluff.com) Read the full review.
Sani Resort, Greece
Sani Resort spans 1,000 acres of pristine nature reserve, comprising coastline, wetlands and pine forest, crisscrossed with hiking trails, on the Halkidiki peninsula in northern Greece. This eco-conscious retreat is home to five different hotels and extensive leisure facilities including the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre, which is a part of the family-friendly Sani Beach Hotel on Cape Sani. Developed by Nadal himself, the tennis hub comes with eight courts and tailored programmes (including 1:1 sessions) designed to suit every level, from beginner to advanced, for both adults and children. Not only focusing on technical and physical aspects of play, these sessions adopt elements of Nadal’s own ethos and values.
Doubles from £183 at Sani Beach Hotel (0800 949 6809; sani-resort.com) Read the full review.
91 Athens Riviera, Greece
91 Athens Riviera opened as part of the Domes Resorts collection in June 2024, and stands out for its “luxtent” accommodation offering and private members’ club concept. Domed tented suites come with terraces and private plunge pools. Wellness and gastronomy are both a focus of this retreat, also home to a beach club and eight tennis courts (plus two mini courts). The resort caters to all tennis abilities, from beginners to hobbyists and professionals, with personalised training, group sessions and competitive games all arranged. At Breakpoint Tennis Clubhouse, the menus of the outdoor lounges have been crafted by celebrated chefs in collaboration with sports nutritionists.
Doubles from £772 (00 30 21 1190 3529; domesresorts.com)
Gstaad Palace, Switzerland
While many people think of Gstaad Palace for the Swiss Alps’ snowy winters, this historic Alpine hotel also draws a crowd in the summer months, when the landscape is at its greenest and the sun is shining. Tennis is among the summer pursuits the palace hotel has become known for, with its annual tennis camps led by former ace Roy Emerson (who holds no fewer than 28 Grand Slam titles), with the assistance of professional instructors. These intensive week-long programmes incorporate 25 hours of coaching, provide unlimited access to the Palace Spa, and include three meals each day of your six-night stay.
Doubles from £807; tennis camps from £4,630 (00 41 33 748 50 00; palace.ch) Read the full review.
Bahía del Duque, Tenerife
This sprawling resort on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean in Costa Adeje regularly sees renowned tennis coach Gunter Bresnik take to the courts with globally revered tennis players such as Dennis Novak, Denis Shapovalov, Alexander Shevchenko and Elina Svitolina in pre-season periods. Tournaments and individual lessons are also hosted on these two double courts and one padel court, which are said to mirror the quality of those used at the Australian Open. After time on the court, the resort’s spa Bahía Wellness Retreat beckons, with a team of therapists, coaches, and physiotherapists on hand for post-play rejuvenation.
Doubles from £330 (00 34 922 74 69 00; thetaishotels.com/bahia-del-duque) Read the full review.
Evian Resort, France
Evian Resort’s verdant, mountain-backed grounds extend across 240 acres of land overlooking the glistening waters of Lake Geneva. Three hotels, a golf club, golfing academy, two golf courses, a concert hall and casino are all encompassed within this picturesque retreat on the lake’s French shores, with four tennis courts and two padel courts, (with a choice between indoor and outdoor play) also found here. The tennis courts are free for hotel guests to book and private and group lessons can also be arranged through the resort’s partnership with LUX Tennis Coaching. Anyone seeking a challenge can attempt to Beat the Pro during a set of six to win an additional free session.
Doubles at Hotel Royal from £405 (00 33 450 26 50 50; evianresort.com/en) Read the full review.
7Pines Resort Sardinia, Italy
The dramatic Gulf of Arzachena, known for its rocky creeks and sandy beaches lapped by turquoise water, provides the picturesque setting for this coastal hotel, which has its own private beach, in the island’s Baja Sardinia resort area. Amid gardens planted with native trees and plants, a collection of sea-view rooms and suites meet panoramic coastal restaurants and bars, and leisure facilities including a lagoon pool, spa and watersports. The resort hosts a series of Sports Academies (including tennis) throughout the year, giving guests of all ages the chance to improve their skills with coaching from international sports stars.
Doubles from £284 (00 39 0789 177 5000; 7pines-sardinia.com) Read the full review.
Pine Cliffs Resort, Algarve, Portugal
This clifftop retreat above Portugal’s longest beach, Praia da Falésia, aims to inspire the next generation of tennis stars through specialised camps and lessons at the year-round Annabel Croft Tennis Academy. Led by the former British No. 1 player, the academy gives guests of all ages the chance to improve their skills in private or two-person coaching sessions, with five-day tennis camps available for children and teenagers. The academy’s two clay courts, three hard courts and padel court can also be booked by the hour. Away from the courts, guests can get to know the resort’s Portuguese and international restaurants, spa, pools and other sports facilities including a nine-hole golf course.
Doubles from £250; tennis camps from £250 per child (00 351 289 500 100; pinecliffs.com) Read the full review.
Forte Village Resort, Italy
The eight hotels, plus a collection of suites and villas, of Forte Village sit within 116 acres of verdant gardens on Sardinia’s southern coast. Numerous pools, a thalassotherapy spa, 21 restaurants and 14 bars back the resort’s sandy shores. Abundant activities are offered, including tennis, with extensive coaching and players from across the world coming especially for tournaments. The resort has 13 floodlit courts (plus three padel courts and a new pickleball court) and coaching is available. From May to September, the resort welcomes international tennis legends to help hone guests’ skills at the tennis academy. ITF tournaments, which now garner global attention, take place at the club each side of that.
Doubles from £457 (00 39 070 921 8818; fortevillageresort.com) Read the full review.
Four Seasons Resort Nevis, St Kitts & Nevis
The Four Seasons Resort Nevis occupies a postcard-perfect setting, facing onto golden shores and backed by green mountainside. Contemporary Caribbean restaurants and bars join rooms looking over the mountain and sea, a Nevisian-inspired spa and three infinity-edge pools. Of the many activities offered, tennis stands out. There are eight tennis and pickleball courts managed by world-renowned Troon Peter Burwash International, with night play, private and group tuition possible, and all equipment available in the sports pavilion’s pro shop. Tennis enthusiasts can book an unlimited tennis package.
Doubles from £800; seven days of unlimited tennis from £907 (00 1 869 469 1111; fourseasons.com) Read the full review.
