Mexico may be a legendary destination for golfers, but it’s also a rewarding place for vacationers looking to lob a tennis ball around a court — or witness some of the world’s greatest players compete.
While many resort hotels have a tennis court or two, the better-equipped properties are those that offer on-site classes, lighted facilities and other amenities for players.
The largest facility for tennis fans on Mexico’s Pacific coast is the Punta Mita Tennis Center, which is accessible for guests from both Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita and The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort. The center has 10 lighted courts, five of which are hard surface (for faster action) and five with sand-filled, synthetic grass. With programs provided under the management of Peter Burwash International, Punta Mita is designed to satisfy demanding players of every experience level.
Just south of Punta Mita, in Puerto Vallarta, a number of hotels are equipped with smaller tennis facilities. The Sheraton Tennis Club, at Sheraton Buganvilias Resort & Convention Center, has four lighted tennis courts with and Grand Slam equipment, as well as a certified tennis pro on staff, private tennis clinics and year-round tournaments.
Vidanta Acapulco is especially well-equipped, with nine courts — six clay and three hard — as well as individual and group lessons; tennis camps available during summer, winter holidays and Easter week. And in Los Cabos, Villa del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa has two lighted tennis courts and offers free lessons six days a week for beginning, intermediate and advanced players; private lessons cost just $35 an hour.
The Caribbean coast is also dotted with tennis-friendly resort hotels. The Tennis Center at The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun offers private lessons, daily tennis clinics, corporate events, round-robin tournaments and international exhibitions. And The Westin Resort & Spa, Cancun has two outdoor lighted tennis courts that are free during daylight hours, with private classes available for an additional fee.
Guests staying with Royal Resorts — a brand that operates the Royal Caribbean, Royal Cancun and Royal Sands, all in Cancun — can arrange private classes, meet fellow players and set up matches with a tennis pro. Clinics for two or more players are offered, and the property hosts weekly tournaments.
Farther south, the Riviera Maya offers a variety of options, too. The tennis courts at Iberostar Paraiso Maya are open 24 hours a day, allowing guests to try their skills whenever they like; personalized classes are also available. And at The Grand Mayan Riviera Maya, the lighted courts are available for private and group lessons, as well as doubles, singles and mixed tournaments organized by the on-site tennis pro. Children’s tennis clinics are also available at The Grand Mayan.
Even travelers headed to the big cities can practice their swing, at properties such as Hilton Mexico City Reforma, which has a paddle tennis court next to rooftop gardens that replicate the verdant elegance of nearby Alameda Central park.
Tennis Tournaments in Mexico
True tennis fans should think about visiting Mexico for one of its major tennis events. If you want to attend the Mexican Tennis Open, which takes place Feb. 26 to March 3, 2018, at Princess Mundo Imperial in Acapulco, you’ll have to wait until 2019 — the upcoming tournament is already sold out, thanks to the presence of big-name players such as Rafael Nadal, Venus Williams and other stars of the courts from Germany, Spain and Japan.
Another must-attend on the international circuit is the Los Cabos Open, a professional men’s tennis tournament that launched in 2016, that takes place every August at Delmar International School at Cabo del Mar. Also noteworthy is the Jalisco Open, which takes place in Guadalajara at the 2,592-seat Polideportivo Metropolitano tennis complex.
The Details
Jalisco Open
www.jalisco-open.com
Los Cabos Open
www.abiertoloscabos.com
Mexican Tennis Open
www.abiertomexicanodetenis.com
