The 1950s post-war real estate boom turned many tennis courts in New York City into high rises and skyscrapers; tennis clubs became a rare commodity.To keep tennis in the city, it occurred to 1931 Wimbledon champion Sidney Wood to build tennis courts on the rooftops of buildings.He convinced his best friend, Don Budge, the six-time Grand Slam champion, to partner with him, and in 1954—sitting on top of a garage that housed FBI vehicles—The Town Tennis Club opened its doors for membership in the quiet residential neighborhood of Sutton Place.At $8 an hour, Budge became the Club’s very first teaching pro.
Thanks to the two players’ sports and social connections, luminaries such as Bobby Riggs, Lew Hoad, Bill Tilden, Pancho Gonzales, Stan Smith, Arthur Ashe, Ken Rosewall, Gardnar Mulloy, and Billy Talbert all came to play at Town Tennis.Gussy Moran, famous for her ruffled panties as well as superb athleticism, was a regular, as was legend-in-the-making Billie Jean King.Maria Bueno, the Brazilian beauty who won 19 Grand Slam titles (7 singles and 12 doubles), played at Town Tennis her entire life.Sophisticated soirées were attended by stage and screen stars like Dina Merrill, Ginger Rogers, Celeste Holm, Charlton Heston, Kirk Douglas, and Rudy Vallée.
In 1973, the Battle of the Sexes press conference, which was broadcast around the world, was held at The Town Tennis Club, Riggs’ home turf.
Today, Town Tennis continues to preserve Wood’s and Budge’s passion to provide tennis enthusiasts with a place they can call home in the heart of the busiest city in the world.We proudly continue to host today’s legends, while we remember and honor the legends of the past.