Clockwise from top left: The Atlanta Open court at Atlantic Station; Sloane Stephens; Sam Kennedy of the South Atlanta Community Tennis Association; Taylor Townsend, a pro who grew up in Atlanta; Ben Shelton, another pro and Atlanta native; Christopher Eubanks, a Wimbledon quarterfinalist who was born and raised in south Atlanta; Horace Reid, a former local prodigy; and two Atlantans getting their practice in at Bitsy Grant Tennis Center.

Bitsy Grant Tennis Center, Eubanks, Kennedy, and Reid: Growl Bros.; Stephens, Townsend: Mady Mertens; Atlanta Open, Shelton: Nick Grace

How Atlanta Became the Tennis Capital of the World

It’s a big claim, and Atlanta backs it up. Discover the city’s integral role in the sport’s recreational boom, a Wimbledon debutant’s unforgettable run, a 14-year summer professional tournament, and the untold story of a groundbreaking prodigy.

Edited by Xavier Stevens and Scott Freeman

Vyvyan Hughes and Craig Weido in front of a wall of neon signs

Atlanta’s The Neon Company, one of few surviving fabricators of neon signs in the U.S., is still going strong

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How Atlanta’s tennis mania—with 100,000+ active players—exploded thanks to rec leagues

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Atlanta is widely acknowledged as the tennis capital of the world, with more than 100,000 players throughout the metro area in leagues such as the Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association (ALTA) and USTA Atlanta. It’s near impossible to get an exact number, with those participating in junior tennis, high school, and college teams, as well as those who play independently or in private clubs, adding to the tennis craze.
A cartoonish graphic of tennis rackets, tennis balls, tennis shoes, a cap, and a court

A beginner’s guide to playing tennis in Atlanta

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I’m not an athlete, but as I climb further into my 30s, I find myself caring more about physical fitness. The thing is, I need to have fun doing it. Chasing and hitting a ball is fun, plus there’s a social aspect. Last summer, I joined an ALTA league, unlocking a world of tennis I didn’t know existed in Atlanta. Starting a new sport can feel overwhelming, but fear not; I’m here to help you.
Christopher Eubanks

Christopher Eubanks searches for the confidence that brought him to new heights at Wimbledon

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Christopher Eubanks, who grew up playing on the courts of the South Fulton Tennis Center, announced himself at Wimbledon in 2023. His string of upset wins was impressive, but the reckless abandonment he played with, plus the shock on his face after every win, made him a crowd favorite. His run ended in the quarterfinals, the furthest an American man had gone at the tournament since 2017, and his ranking jumped to number 29 in the world, a career high. But since that summer on grass, Eubanks hasn’t been back on tennis’s biggest stages.
Horace Reid stands on a tennis court

Atlanta’s Forgotten Tennis Pioneer: Horace Reid

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It wasn’t unreasonable to imagine Horace Reid on a rocket ship to the top of the tennis world. Many already saw him as the next great Black champion. But within a few years, Reid’s tennis dreams would be all but dashed: He’d quit college, fail to find consistency on the pro tour, and suffer an agonizing fallout with Arthur Ashe, his hero and would-be mentor. The rupture would not only hamstring Reid’s career, in his telling, but also burden him with a secret he felt he could never share: how everything went so wrong.
A beautiful evening at the Atlanta Open court

The Atlanta Open’s last stand: The final summer days of professional tennis in Atlanta

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Yes, the Atlanta Open was not the best venue for tennis, though I do also see its temporary structure, and existence, as a sign: Commitment is important, for both the people with the checkbooks and pens, and the fans.
Atlanta Magazine April 2025 cover - How Atlanta Became the Tennis Capital of the World

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Since 1961, Atlanta magazine, the city’s premier general interest publication, has served as the authority on Atlanta, providing its readers with a mix of long-form nonfiction, lively lifestyle coverage, in-depth service journalism, and literary essays, columns, and profiles.

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