đ usncan Note: A Winning Formula: Tennis Tourism
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 27: A general view of the grounds on day two of the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 27, 2019 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
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As the U.S. Open moves into its second week, the winner of the tournament has become clear: itâs tennis tourism. This yearâs event will exceed 1 million attendees for the first time in the history of any tournament in the world. And even though grounds passes have soared to $169 a day, nearly 40,000 people pile into the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center daily.
In fact, global sporting events have generated around 10% of the worldâs expenditure on tourism, which has an estimated growth rate of 17.5% between 2023 and 2030, according to a UN Tourism report.
For tennis fans, the professional circuit runs for a long, eleven-month slog. Both menâs and womenâs tours operate separately, for the most part. Both span over 50 tournaments annually, spread over five continents, converging about a dozen times at several key tournaments. For tennis fans, or even casual fans, these events turn into parties unto themselves, especially when set in appealing destinations like Melbourne and New York City.
No matter when your vacation period falls, youâll likely find a tournament running in some far-flung (and warm) location where incredible athletes compete for your entertainment.
Here is a guide for the most significant annual tournaments to help you plan your trip, including where to stay, what to eat, and what to drink. You already know what to watch.
Elevated Subway Train and New York City Skyline
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U.S. Open in Flushing, Queens (late August)
The US Open is a big, glamorous, noisy New York affair (though itâs held so far from Manhattan it should be referred to as Queens.) The tournamentâs frequent use of marquee evening matches (compared to the other Grand Slams) often leads to some of the most electric moments in sports.
The event balances the pricey, cavernous, corporate main stadium (Arthur Ashe) experience against the cheaper grounds pass (once $40, now $169.) However, the qualifying tournament the week prior to the start remains free for fans. One has the chance to glimpse players in stark contrastâunknowns in their budding stages and former contenders in their twilight. During the day, fans can meander in and out of matches, keyed by the soundtrack of fervent applause in a close match, of grunts and skidding sneakers just a few feet away.
Where to Stay
Skip local lodging in Queens and head over to Williamsburg. Queens kills it on the food front, but hotels are limited.
The Renaissance Hotel at Tangram, a Marriott property, sits less than 2 miles away but soars to rates over $1200 a night during the tournament. The centrally located The Penny Williamsburg echoes its low-slung neighborhood vibes.
For a more glamorous (though noisier) option, The William Vale offers a towering oasis in an urban warehouse zone, replete with a roof bar, restaurant, and 4th-floor pool.
Where to Eat
When you need a break from the pricey, though solid, tournament vendorsâlike Poke Yachty, Korilla BBQ, David Changâs Fuku, or Pat LaFriedaâhead ten minutes east to Downtown Flushing. Itâs less than two miles away and home to some of the best Chinese food in New York City, and arguably the country.
If youâre trying to make the start of the night session, go to Che Li. If you wait until afterward, stop at Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao for soup dumplings before midnight. Or, if itâs closer to 1 a.m., finish with a late-night hotpot at Chong Qing Lao Zao.
Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia (Mid-January)
Itâs mid-summer in Australia, and the weather can be brutally hotâeven in the seaside city of Melbourne. Like all Grand Slam tournaments, the Australian Open runs for two weeks and attracts more than a million visitors. Plan early for the heat, the crowds, and your accommodation. The event has grown into a cultural spectacle, and if it werenât set in such a vibrant city, Iâd suggest staying on the grounds to enjoy the food, drink, and activities surrounding the courts.
Where to Stay
The 1 Hotel Melbourne is a ten-minute drive or twenty-minute journey by tram and foot and overlooks the Yarra River. This spectacular-looking (both inside and outside) newcomer, which opened in 2025, welcomes guests with a calming design blend of wood, stone, and plants, and itâs a leading sustainable hotel brand (bonus).
Where to Eat
Dining in the Melbourne Park grounds has turned into a sophisticated affair, especially compared to US sports arenas. From food trucks to full-blown seated restaurants, options include AO Glasshouse by the Agrarian Kitchen, The Bistro by SK Steak & Oyster, and a bar collab with Caretakerâs Cottage, ranked number 21 globally by The Worldâs 50 Best Bars.
Outside the gates, new local spots like Ho Jiak, Kolkata Cricket Club, and Marmelo offer lively, less pricey experiences.
Where to Drink
If you canât afford (or miss out on booking) Caretakerâs Cottage on the grounds, consider stopping by the original. Expect a line, though. Otherwise, walk one block south to Solace Bar or a block west to Aster Cocktail & Wine, both relatively new entrants to the CBD.
Aerial view of the stadium and hardcourts of the Indian Wells Tennis Garden where the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament is played annually during March in California.
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Larry Ellison invested hundreds of millions into elevating the BNP Paribas Openâa joint menâs and womenâs eventâto near Grand Slam status. The tournament draws the worldâs top players, fills the second-largest tennis stadium in existence, and welcomes nearly half a million fans over two weeks. With the Santa Rosa Mountains as its backdrop, itâs also one of the tourâs most striking venues.
Where to Stay
Airbnb was made for locales like Palm Springs, Palm Desert, and Indian Wells. Book one of the classic mid-century modernist homes, replete with a private pool. Otherwise, Palm Springs, a half-hour (20-mile) drive from Indian Wells, boasts several small boutique hotels that opened in the last year. Consider The Velvet Rope, The Cactai, The Little Mod Hotel, The Muse, and Yara; however, these five establishments collectively offer fewer than 40 rooms. Alternatively, The Dunes, also new, more than triples that number.
Where to Eat
Attractive options may seem relatively limited right outside the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, but thatâs starting to change. Among the newly opened restaurants nearby, the Grand Hyatt Indian Wells has two: Tia Carmen and Carmocha, both from Chef Angelo Sosa.
Next door, the Indian Wells Golf Resort recently opened Kestrel, from Top Chef alum Richard Blais. Stop by The Blushing Peony CafĂŠ for breakfast, lunch, or brunch on your way in before day play starts at 11 am, and consider visiting Foxyâs Kitchen and Bar after the day session ends on your return to Palm Springs.
Where to Drink
As you leave Indian Wells for Palm Springs, the route provides a few stops for drinks. First, try the bar at Melvynâs, a decades-long institution. Five minutes further toward town, check out either The Evening Citizen or Alana Bar and Tapas.
Paris, France May 26 2015: Eiffel Tower with tennis ball hanging from tower for French Open Tennis Tournament Roland Garros.
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French Open (Roland-Garros) in Paris, France (mid-May)
The French Open concludes a nearly two-month stretch of clay-court tournaments that make up the âclay court season.â The surface favors baseline rallies, defensive play, high bounces, looping swings, and plenty of sliding. Key stops along the way include Morocco, Barcelona, Madrid, Monte Carlo, Prague, and Romeâan itinerary that could double as an enviable road trip, ferry included.
Where to Stay
Itâs Paris, so treat yourself to a couple nights at the Molitor on 13 Rue Nungesser et Coli, a five-star hotel with minimalist design and a massive, iconic pool. Its heyday was back in the Art Deco period nearly a century ago, but it has been rejuvenated. Most important, itâs only a five-minute walk from Roland-Garros, which sits in the 16th arrondissement. Or you could opt for a luxury apartment rental.
Where to Eat
Several impressive restaurants operate in the tournamentâs vicinity, such as La Grande Cascade and the rooftop of the Molitor Hotel. The prices are also impressive. For an alternative, walk 15 minutes east from the stadium towards the Auteuil district to one of several very French brasseries like Le Congres Auteuil, Le Forty-One, or Le Beaujolais dâAuteuil, all within a block of each other.
Where to Drink
There are few worthwhile options within walking distance of Stade Roland-Garros. Since Parisâs cocktail scene is about a 30-minute drive away, your best bet is a drink on the rooftop of the Molitor or at one of the nearby brasseries.
“London, England – June 23, 2011: Members entrance at the All England Lawn Tennis Club during the Wimbledon tennis championships. The entrance is being guarded by volunteer members from the British army and navy.”
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Wimbledon in London, England (late June)
The oldest and most prestigious tournament also brings a change of surfaceâless than half an inch of meticulously manicured grass. Players are required to wear all whiteânot cream, not off-whiteâgiving the event its unmistakably upper-crust look and feel.
Where to Stay
Base yourself in Wimbledon Village, but expect crowdsâitâs only a 15-minute walk south of the All England Club, the private club that hosts the tournament. A pair of boutique hotels, Dog & Fox, in the heart of the village, and Fox & Grapes, just a ten-minute walk west of the village, offer the quintessential but modernized England pub/inn experience.
Where to Eat
Dozens of restaurants line Wimbledon Hill Road in Wimbledon Village. Two iconic experiences to try: The Ivy (despite being one of a chain of 16 in London) and The Alexandra. After ticking these bucket list spots, consider The Black Lamb for another British countryside experience.
Where to Drink
The Alexandra on 33 Wimbledon Hill Road is a classic English pub with a rooftop terrace to catch rays from Londonâs fleeting summer. Of course, thousands of attendees on the Wimbledon grounds will also discover this upon arriving. As an alternative, consider adding Hemingwayâs Bar, Hand in Hand, Rose & Crown, and Queen 601 to the crawl.
