THE NEW YORKER II

Certainly one of the most incredibles tennis courts of this serie. This clay court, really unusual in the US, is situated in Rhinebeck, in the state of New York along the Hudson river. The most amazing part is that the court is IN the "house" . His first owner, John Jacob Astor IV had built the "house" between 1902 and 1904 copying the Grand Trianon de Versailles ! After his death during the collapse of the Titanic, his wife who has survived (she was pregnant) inherited of the "house". It's the former very famous spanish architect Rafael Guastavino in association with Stanford White who built this incredible tennis couert. It was the first indoor in the United States. The court is just behind the entrance hall, like any other room but this one is just unique. I had the opportunity and luck to photograph it after several attempts... But I really wanted to have this one.

PRESBYTERE

Situated in the XVI district in the heart of Paris, this court has been installed in a former presbytere from the parish Nicolaïte de Chaillot. Have a closer look, the court has no margin on the sides ! Unbelievable.. Rules are made according to : it's forbidden to serve crossed !

TRIANON

Novak Djokovic comes by footing to play on this court next to his house. Besides being surronded by magnificient trees, it's the same surface as the US Open ! And no doubts about this, the serbian owners, so it helps... It is situated on the coast of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, in the heart of beautiful villas in a very strict and secured area... It was not easy to get the authorization to photograph this court...

BRETEUIL

This court is situated in the beautiful garden of the château de Breteuil, where Charles Perrault's tales are described The castle's gardener kindly lended me a ladder so I can climb on a little wall to see the castle in the background of the court.

AMBASSADOR

It could only be in grass... In the heart of Paris, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, it is the Great Britain embassy's tennis court ! We can't miss it, covering mainly the garden. Very well maintained, it has been built in the early 90's. The ambassador plays often and personals as well. Amélie Mauresmo had practiced there before her win in Wimbledon in 2006...

GREEN

Part of the tennis court of Villandry, surrounded by trees

VILLANDRY

This court is situated in the beautiful gardens of the "château de Villandry". Linden trees and charmille is forming a living fence which makes the court unique and fading in the landscape. It's a total surprise when you discover it. Historically, a clay court existed in 1910, at the very same place. Destroyed after the war, it's been rebuilt in 2010 by the new owner. He decided to base on Wimbledon tennis courts so it doesn't contrast wit the rest of the Renaissance gardens. Some tennis players like Stéphane Robert, a neighbour, have already practiced there to prepare Wimbledon !

THE BEACH

Situated in the small city of Gassin, in Trezain, this tennis court is literrally built ON the beach ! It feels like we are playing on the water ! In winter, when it's windy, waves are smashing on the court and if ever it rainss, you really play on water... Found on google earth by random, it was very difficult to find it for real, better to come by boat... I went there in the early morning and waited a long time before being able to see the owner who kindly gave me access.

VEGETAL

This court is situated along a very small road near Grosrouvre city in the suburbs of Paris The vegetation has taken control of the court. Only the net survives...for now ! It's a friend photographer who found this court close to his house and told me about it when he knew I was doing this story. When he saw it, he had the same idea of shooting special tennis courts ! The density is just amazing.

THE BARN

This tennis court is situated in the tennis club of Troyes and has been built in 1920 ! It was an airship barn during world war I. 60 trees trunks are the base of the barn. Really nice atmosphere with the light coming in through the holes.

CLIFF

This court is situated closed to the Normandie's coasts, in a small village called Veulettes-sur-Mer. The owners didn't dig to build the court, we often ask them the question ! Built in 1960, it is today left at itself unfortunately. That's a shame because the landscape is beautiful and it has a natural wall which could be useful...

GRAND CENTRAL

There's a very very few possibilities to have tennis courts in midtown, so you have to find unusual places ! It's in the heart of Manhattan, in the biggest train station, and certainly the most famous that the Vanderbilt tennis club has been built ! Situated at the 4th floor with a beautiful view on Park avenue. You may have seen it without knowing it, Grand Central being one of the most visited place in New York. There's only one court but it's fully booked, all week from 6am till 2am sometimes... And the high rates don't stop the players. Between 80$ to 250$ to play one hour ! Sometimes used by the pros during the US Open to practice when it rains a lot. Very closed to their hotels. Serena Williams, for instance, is a regular client...

MANHATTAN

This court is on the rooftop of the Watchtower building who does the most circulated magazine in the United States ! Distributed by Jeov witnesses. It's in Brooklyn, with a scenic view on Manhattan. We can see 2 of the most beautiful bridges of New York woth the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan bridge. We can see as well the Empire State Building and the Freedom Tower. I've asked a special authorization to get on the top of the other building so I can have Manhattan in the background.

LOST

This court is along a little alley driving to the Bel-Evat castle in the suburbs of Paris. Impossible to see it if you don' know it exists... Only the net subsists, well maintained ! If vegetals got all over the place easily, it's because it was a former clay court I also found a tennisball, from the old times ! This court has served for the broadcasting to present Wimbledon by Beinsports. That's how we found this court...

PARADISE

Absolutely astonishing ! 3 awesomes tennis grass courts in the desert ! It's in California, in La Quinta. Really close to Indian Wells where the masters 100 is played. Golf paradise but also tennis paradise in this case with those spectaculars grass courts in this landscape.

PARADISE II

Absolutely astonishing ! 3 awesomes tennis grass courts in the desert ! It's in California, in La Quinta. Really close to Indian Wells where the masters 100 is played. Golf paradise but also tennis paradise in this case with those spectaculars grass courts in this landscape.

CALIFORNIAN

Beautiful tennis court in Indian Wells, California. The swimming pool alongside is just outstanding and makes it unique. Dream landscape with all these palm trees. If it's hot and you have a big point, you can still make a drop !

HILLS

10104 Angelo Drive, Beverly Hills 90210 This dream adress is THE adress of this tennis court. Owned by James Goldstein, famous business man who loves sports and specially tennis, he let me photographed his court very kindly. I discovered this court thanks to Jeremy Chardy who knew the owner. Many thanks to jim for introducing me to Mr Goldstein.

HILLS BY NIGHT

10104 Angelo Drive, Beverly Hills 90210 This dream adress is THE adress of this tennis court. Owned by James Goldstein, famous business man who loves sports and specially tennis, he let me photographed his court very kindly. I discovered this court thanks to Jeremy Chardy who knew the owner. Many thanks to jim for introducing me to Mr Goldstein.

DREAM

This secret astonishing grass court is well hidden in a small village in the Alps. The english owner (of course) doesn't want to be invaded by tourists ! And we can understand him as he and his wife built the court with their own hands... At first it was for to celebrate his 50th birthday. Started in 2012, it was playable in 2016. But playable was not enough for Lloyd who wanted it to be perfectly flat, like in Wimbledon. Therefore he dug again to make it impeccable in 2017 ! Lloyd estimates to have spent 4000 hours on this court... Dream came true

PURE

This tennis court is situated in the Alps, near Peisey-Vallandry at 1600m. Scenic view to play tennis with pure air... What else ?