It’s 8:30 a.m. in South Florida, and the air is already thick enough to wear. In the manicured enclaves of Boca Raton, the thwack-thwack-thwack of yellow felt against poly strings provides a rhythmic soundtrack to the morning commute.
To the uninitiated, it’s just practice. But look closer at the person sweating through a dri-fit shirt on Court 4, and you might just recognize the backhand that won the US Open.
Welcome to Florida, the unofficial locker room of the professional tennis tour.
From the clay courts of the Panhandle to the neon-soaked hard courts of Miami, the Sunshine State has evolved into something far more significant than a mere tax haven for the wealthy. It is the global epicenter of tennis—a peninsula where Grand Slam champions live next door to future stars, where “iron sharpens iron” isn’t a cliché but a daily training schedule.
The Ecosystem: Why They All Come Here
“You come for the weather, you stay for the tax breaks, but you win because of the neighbors,” says one long-time tour coach based in Delray Beach.
The formula is simple but potent. Florida offers year-round outdoor play, zero state income tax (a massive draw for athletes earning millions in prize money), and three major international airports. But the true magnet is density. In no other place on Earth can a top-ranked player drive 15 minutes to find a hitting partner of equal caliber.
The state is effectively divided into four “Tennis Kingdoms,” each with its own distinct vibe and roster of royalty.
Kingdom 1: The “American Headquarters”
(Boca Raton & Delray Beach)
The Vibe: Suburbia meets Superstardom. Training hard, eating clean, and living quietly.
If there is a capital city of American tennis, it is Boca Raton. This is the land where Chris Evert planted her flag decades ago, creating an academy that—along with the legendary Nick Bollettieri (now IMG) in Bradenton—invented the modern tennis factory.
Today, the area is teeming with the current generation of American stars. Coco Gauff, the teenage phenomenon turned Grand Slam champion, is a local hero here. You might spot her grabbing a smoothie at a spot on Glades Road or training at the impeccable facilities of the Delray Beach Tennis Center.
Just up the road, Jessica Pegula, the billionaire heiress and consistent Top 5 player, calls Boca home. She’s joined by the “frat house” of American men’s tennis: Tommy Paul and Reilly Opelka. Paul recently snapped up a stunning $2.5 million modern estate in Boca, cementing the city’s status as the base for the American resurgence.
The Hangouts:
• The Food: Pros are regulars at Pura Vida for açai bowls and The Hampton Social in Delray for a relaxed dinner.
• The Scene: The Boca Raton resort. With its “Racquet Club” featuring courtside bars and a dedicated tennis concierge, it’s where the luxury of the sport meets the grind.
Kingdom 2: The Fortress of Solitude (Jupiter & Palm Beach Gardens)
The Vibe: Ultra-private, old money, and gated estates.
Drive 40 minutes north, and the vibe shifts. The courts get private, the hedges get taller, and the names get bigger. This is Williams Sister Territory.
Venus Williams resides in a massive, custom-designed waterfront estate on Jupiter Island, a zip code so exclusive it makes Beverly Hills look accessible. Serena Williams, though she spends time on the West Coast, has held property here for years, using the privacy of Palm Beach Gardens to train away from the prying eyes of paparazzi.
This area is for the veterans who have nothing left to prove and value peace above all else. It’s golf cart communities and private docks.
The Insider Spot:
• The Bears Club: While known for golf (Michael Jordan is a member), the crossover between elite golfers and tennis stars here is high. It’s the ultimate “safe space” for athletes to socialize without being asked for a selfie.
Kingdom 3: The International Glamour (Miami & Fisher Island)
The Vibe: High fashion, humidity, and European flair.
Down south, the energy is electric. Miami is the chosen base for the international jet set. Current World No. 1 contender Aryna Sabalenka has made Miami her home, frequently posting photos from the city’s pristine beaches and trendy restaurants like Komodo or Gekko. For her, the humidity isn’t a bug; it’s a feature that prepares her for the grueling tour conditions.
Then there is Fisher Island. Accessible only by ferry or yacht, this private island is arguably the wealthiest zip code in America. It has its own Grand Slam-surface courts (grass, clay, hard) and has been a refuge for legends like Caroline Wozniacki and past icons like Boris Becker and Steffi Graf. It is the place to be if you want to practice your serve in complete isolation, surrounded by peacocks and billionaires.
Kingdom 4: The Silicon Valley of Tennis (Lake Nona & Orlando)
The Vibe: Futuristic, corporate, and high-tech.
While South Florida relies on history, Central Florida is building the future. The USTA National Campus in Lake Nona is a sprawling, 100-court mega-facility that serves as the “Home of American Tennis.”
This isn’t just a club; it’s a laboratory. It’s where Ben Shelton honed the explosive game that took the tour by storm. The campus features “smart courts” with video analytics, dormitories for prospects, and a medical center that rivals NFL facilities. It has turned Orlando into a magnet for players who treat their body like a Formula 1 car.
The Community:
• Laureate Park: A neighborhood in Lake Nona where players drive golf carts to the courts and hang out at Boxi Park, an outdoor container park with food trucks and volleyball courts. It’s a collegiate atmosphere for pros.
The Verdict
In 2026, you can’t tell the story of tennis without telling the story of Florida. It is a state where a Tuesday morning practice session can look like a Grand Slam quarterfinal.
As Tommy Paul told a reporter recently about living in Boca, “One of the hardest parts about tennis is how much time you’re away… so when I’m here, I like to keep it simple.”
And that is the Florida promise. Simple living, hard training, and the best tennis in the world—right in your backyard.
