As the Australian Open brings the world’s attention back to the geometry, grace, and drama of the court, it is worth remembering that tennis, and its fast-rising cousin, pickleball, are not reserved for stadiums or center court heroes. You do not need to be Roger Federer, Carlos Alcaraz, or either of the Williams sisters to play somewhere extraordinary. Around the world, courts appear in places that feel almost improbably beautiful: perched above turquoise coastlines, framed by alpine peaks, or tucked into historic cities. Here, the setting is as much a part of the experience as the scoreline.
Designing a court is an exercise in constraint. Dimensions are fixed. Orientation is prescribed. Lines and nets are universal. And yet, within those rigid parameters, architects and hoteliers have found room for poetry. The most compelling courts marry precision with place, proving that function and beauty are not opposing forces. A rally feels different when played against snow-capped mountains or centuries-old stone, when the pause between points includes a horizon rather than a backstop.
These are places built for serious play and unhurried pleasure alike; where a morning match gives way to a long lunch, and where every serve is framed by a view worth remembering. From remote islands to storied European lakes and far beyond, these courts turn a game into a destination, a match into a memory. Start planning racquet-themed itineraries here.
