In recent years, there have been some incredible, innovative tennis court designs which have pushed the boundaries of the sport and set the precedent for future unique court designs. Our experts at Charles Lawrence have compiled a list of five of the world’s most inventive tennis courts which have attracted the attention of spectators and professionals from across the globe.
1. Don’t look down!
Boasting the title of the world’s highest tennis court, this innovative design was located 700ft off the ground on top of the Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai. This helipad was converted into a tennis court for a short time to allow space for Agassi and Federer to play an exhibition match in 2005.
2. Wimbledon Centre Court
Wimbledon Centre Court opened in 1922 and was later renovated in 2009. It has featured as the main court at the Wimbledon Championship and has arguably become one of the most famous tennis courts in the world.
The court holds a capacity of 15,000 and is one of the few remaining professional grass tennis courts in the world. Its only regular use is for the two weeks a year that the Championships take place, attracting a rather distinguished crowd including a premier box for the Royal Family.
A retractable roof was installed in 2009, enabling play to continue during rain and into the night up until 11pm. Wimbledon Centre Court was also host to the tennis competition as part of the 2012 Summer Olympics along with No.1 Court and No.2 Court.
3. Walking on water
Revealed in 2011, this floating court, located in the middle of a lagoon in the Persian Gulf, was a major talking point for fans and spectators of the sport. It attracted the attention of tennis aces Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer who took part in a friendly game on this specially-designed stage in Doha ahead of the Qatar Open, which marks the beginning of the tennis calendar.
4. Mirror, mirror on the wall…
This reflective media launch event was held in Melbourne, Australia for the first ‘Adidas by Stella McCartney’ collection. Caroline Wozniacki, Maria Kirilenko and Laura Robson attended the glitzy event and even took to the shiny court for a knockabout in the world’s first mirror tennis court.
5. Tickled Pink
The traditional red clay courts at the French Open were swapped for fuscia pink in honour of women’s day at Roland Garros. This pink clay court was unveiled ahead of the women’s legends doubles semi finals match between Martina Navratilova (USA), Jana Novotna (Czech Republic) and Nathalie Tauziat and Sandrine Testud (France) during day 12 of the French Open 2012.
Our skilled team at Charles Lawrence Tennis Courts have the expertise to create the ideal playing surface to best suit your requirements no matter what your budget. We also specialise in tennis court resurfacing and court maintenance and renovation for a court which guarantees longevity, durability and high performance. Simply give us a ring or contact us online today for further information – we are always happy to help with any enquiry.
