Houston Local Area Information

Houston is the home of many well-known sports teams, as well as the proud host of several professional tennis tournaments. The U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships are held at the Westside Tennis Club every April. The Tennis Masters Cup will be in Houston for the second consecutive year in November 2004. In recognition of the significant contribution this city makes to the sport of tennis, the 2002 Davis Cup Quarterfinal was also held here. Additionally, several tournaments for the tennis stars of tomorrow also occur in Houston .

Westside Tennis Club is located west of downtown, near the intersection of Beltway 8 and Interstate 10. They offer all four kinds of surfaces used in the Grand Slam tournaments, including clay courts, grass courts, hard courts, and rebound ace courts like those of the Australian Open. This is one of the few establishments with clay courts that are identical in composition to the clay use at Roland Garros during the French Open. With 46 tennis courts, 10 of which are inside, this club is one of the largest and most comfortable establishments in the country. In addition to their tennis amenities, Westside Tennis Club also provides an excellent strength and fitness facility, a basketball court so amazing that the professional basketball teams in Houston use it for practice, a heated pool, a sand volleyball court, a recreation center for children, and three scrumptious dining options.

If you prefer to see younger tennis players on their way up, the River Oaks Tournament is a must see. This event is held at River Oaks Country Club during the first week of April. River Oaks Country Club is located just west of downtown, inside Loop 610. The tournament is played on red clay and is only open to male players who are young and talented, but have not yet achieved success of magnificent proportions. For a chance to see the next new faces of professional tennis at a much less expensive rate than other events, this tournament is ideal. Whether you are desperate to get a glimpse of Andy Roddick, just want to see some live tennis, or prefer to get some time on the same courts on which the professionals play, the Houston tennis scene is something worth embracing.