Tennis in Sarasota is Alive and Well

Love Tennis? Sarasota & Lakewood Ranch Serve Up the Perfect Active-Living Lifestyle

If you think Florida sunshine tastes better with a crisp backhand and the smell of fresh clay courts in the air, you’re going to feel right at home in Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch. This region isn’t just about luxury homes and waterfront living — it’s a genuine tennis community with roots that stretch back decades, where pros have come through for exhibition matches and local leagues keep competition strong year-round.

Year after year, Sarasota’s tennis culture pulls players together both socially and competitively. For instance, the Sarasota Open — an ATP Challenger event, has drawn high-level play to the Sarasota Sports Club courts. (ATP Tour) Alongside that marquee event, USTA tournaments and local UTR events like SRQ Tennis August Level 7 also spotlight the community’s competitive spirit — from junior crew to adult league rivalries. (USTA Serve Tennis) And don’t forget social leagues and USTA adult play sessions sprinkled throughout the calendar that keep racquets swinging and new friendships forming. (USTA Florida)

Where You’ll Find the Best Tennis Facilities in Sarasota

Whether you’re already living here or thinking about relocating, Sarasota has a diverse range of tennis venues — public courts, club settings, and pro coaching hubs:

Public & Casual Play

• Payne Park Tennis Center – A local favorite with 12 Har-Tru courts, leagues, clinics, and USTA play right in downtown Sarasota. (Let's Play Sarasota)
  
  
• Arlington Park Sarasota – Hard courts in a well-loved neighborhood park.
  
  
• Gillespie Park – Great for casual drop-ins and youth play.
  
  

Club & Community Tennis (Indoor or Membership)

• Landings Racquet Club – Highly rated club environment with regular play and a social community.
  
  
• The Field Club – A standout club experience with excellent courts and social vibe.
  
  
• Laurel Oak Country Club - Tennis, Pickleball, & Pool Facility – Country club setting that blends tennis with broader wellness amenities.
  
  
• Sarasota Tennis and Fitness & Tennis Sarasota – Independent instruction and play opportunities for varied skill levels.
  
  
• The Meadows Sarasota- 14 hard-tru courts, pro shop and teaching/ coaching available

Specialty Programs & Coaching

• SRQ TENNIS – Great coaches and targeted improvement programs.
  
  
• Celsius Tennis Academy – Well-reviewed academy environment.
  
  
• Wayne's World Tennis – Boutique training setting with highly personalized instruction.
  
  
• Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy (Bradenton) – Famous coaching pedigree nearby.
  
  

Nearby facilities also link into county tennis programs — including dozens of courts across parks in Sarasota County — giving you lots of places to play year-round. (Sarasota County Parks)

Lakewood Ranch: Tennis in the Heart of Active Living

Lakewood Ranch doesn’t sit on the sidelines either. With its reputation as one of the country’s most active master-planned communities, it supports tennis through a constellation of great courts and social play:

• Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club Tennis Center – A hub with multiple courts, leagues, and social play for residents of Lakewood Ranch golf communities.
  
  
• Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club Aquatics Fitness Center and Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club Fitness Center – Fitness tie-ins that make tennis part of a broader healthy lifestyle.
  
  
• Lakewood Ranch Tennis Courts – Public courts scattered throughout the community for casual play.
  
  
• Alexis Jones: PTR‑Certified Tennis Coach @ Lakewood Ranch Tennis Academy – Smith Avenue coach offering private, semi-private, and group lessons right within the community. (Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club)
  
  

For lessons in Lakewood Ranch beyond the academy, several services — including PlayYourCourt and My Tennis Lessons — will send pros to courts near you, with flexible scheduling and skill-level-tailored plans. (Play Your Court)

Tennis & Healthy Living: It’s More Than Just a Game

Active living is a huge draw in both Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch, and tennis fits perfectly into that lifestyle. After a morning match, residents often head to local running paths, golf courses, yoga studios, or juice bars to keep the healthy momentum going. Golf communities — whether on Siesta Key, Longboat Key, University Parkway, or inside Lakewood Ranch’s premier neighborhoods — pair beautifully with a tennis habit. In many of these areas, you don’t just find courts close by, you find the community and lifestyle that makes active living easy.

And on the events front, players of all ages can look forward to highlight dates like the Sarasota Open in April, UTR and local USTA competitions throughout the year, social leagues that rotate in spring and fall, and junior tournament circuits that keep kids engaged all year. (ATP Tour)