About Cleveland Tennis
Our story
Cleveland Tennis started in 2021, organized through a Facebook group and email lists, with a simple idea: make it easy for anyone in Cleveland to find a game. It’s grown every year since.
2023 was the year we found our footing. We hosted 49 meetups between April and October, with 451 total players hitting the courts, and expanded onto Cleveland’s east side for the first time. Our online community grew from 469 to 734 members—56% in a single year. We ran our first-ever singles tournament that fall, alongside the Tiny Tourny doubles event.
2025 was our biggest year yet: over 100 meetups, more than 1,000 players on the courts (not unique—regulars showing up again and again), and a community that crossed 1,200 members on Facebook. We watched the Grand Slams together and ran a Summer Singles Tournament.
None of this happens without volunteers who show up week after week to run events, rain or shine—organizing Saturday mornings, holding down weeknight sessions across the east and west sides, and everything in between. If you’ve ever RSVP’d to a Cleveland Tennis meetup, one of them made it happen for you.
Today we’re at 1,400+ members and growing, and this website is the next step—making it easier to see what’s on, RSVP, and find a partner, without losing the volunteer-run, all-are-welcome spirit that’s been here since day one.
Cleveland Tennis, by the numbers
- 1,400+ members in our Facebook community.
- 100+ meetups hosted in 2025 alone.
- 1,000+ players on the courts last year.
- 2021—the year we got started, and we’ve grown every year since.
How we play
- Doubles focus: Most of our meetups center on doubles play, making it easy to rotate positions, mix groups, and keep everyone moving on the courts.
- Find hitting partners: If you are looking for regular hitting partners or people to swing a racket with outside of scheduled events, our network is an excellent way to connect with local players of similar skill levels.
- Mini-tournaments: We coordinate one or two casual mini-tournaments during the outdoor season, offering a friendly, low-stakes competitive environment for the community.
Beyond the courts
Our community extends past the lines of the court. To help players connect and socialize, we integrate regular social events into our calendar:
- Post-play happy hours: Some of our weekly meetups are followed by casual social gatherings at local spots nearby.
- Watch parties: We host community viewings for Grand Slam tournaments and major tennis events throughout the year.
“What I enjoy most, even more than the opportunity to play the game that I love, is the opportunity to meet so many great people and being a part of this community! … The meet ups to watch a grand slam final, post-play drinks and invites to other social events has become as big a part of Cleveland Tennis as the tennis itself… and that’s a beautiful thing!”
— Cleveland Tennis member
Why we play
- Zero cost: We believe access to sports should be universal. There are no membership fees, court fees, or registration costs.
- All levels welcome: Our events focus on open play, casual hitting, and inclusion. No intimidation, just tennis.
- Community driven: Run entirely by local volunteers, we build spaces for Clevelanders to stay active, socialize, and share a love for this great game.