Tennis in Miami

Tennis

Miami-Dade has more than a dozen tennis centers and nearly 500 public courts open to visitors; nonresidents are charged an hourly fee. Some courts take reservations on weekdays.

Biltmore Tennis Center has 10 hard courts and a view of the beautiful Biltmore Hotel. 1150 Anastasia Ave., Coral Gables. 305/460-5360. $8.50 per person per hr. Weekdays 7 AM-10 PM, weekends 7-8.

Very popular with locals, Flamingo Park Tennis Center has 19 clay courts smack dab in the middle of Miami Beach. You can't get much closer to the action. 11th St. at Jefferson, South Beach, Miami Beach. 305/673-7761. Day rate $8, night rate $9.50, per person per hr. Weekdays 8 AM-9 PM, weekends 8-8.

The 30-acre Crandon Park Tennis Center is one of America's best. Included are two grass, six clay, and 17 hard courts plus the stadium court. Reservations are required for night play, as only seven hard courts have lights. Otherwise courts are open to the public except during the 12 days of the Sony Ericsson Open each spring. This pro tournament is the world's fifth largest in attendance, offers more than $6 million in prize money, and draws such players as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Maria Sharapova to compete in the 14,000-seat stadium. 7300 Crandon Blvd., Key Biscayne. 305/365-2300; 305/442-3367 Sony Ericsson Open. Hard courts: day rate $3, night rate $5, per person per hr; clay courts: $6 per person per hr; grass courts: $10 per person per hr; stadium court: $12 per person per hr. Sony Ericsson Open: $15-$50. Daily 8 AM-9 PM.