Spotlight on the Sarasota Tennis Community
Sarasota's tennis community blends world-class pedigree with year-round Gulf Coast play. Just north in Bradenton, IMG Academy — the original Bollettieri tennis "factory" — has shaped generations of champions, while the ATP Challenger Sarasota Open brings pro men's tennis to the Suncoast each spring. From the public Payne Park Tennis Center to private clubs and Longboat Key resorts, players of every level have somewhere to compete. Many area players take part in tournaments and doubles leagues organized through Tennis Circuits®.
The Landmarks: Sarasota's Iconic Tennis Institutions
A world-famous academy, a pro tournament, and a deep club-and-resort tradition anchor the story of tennis in the Sarasota area.
IMG Academy, in Bradenton just north of Sarasota, is the most famous tennis academy in the world. Founded in 1978 as the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy — the original residential tennis "factory" — it was purchased by IMG in 1987 and has grown into a 600-acre, multi-sport boarding school with more than 50 tennis courts. The list of players who trained there reads like a who's who of the sport: Andre Agassi, Monica Seles, Maria Sharapova, Jim Courier, Boris Becker, and the Williams sisters, among many others.
The Sarasota Open brings professional men's tennis to the Suncoast each spring. Part of the ATP Challenger Tour and USTA Pro Circuit since 2008, it has been played at venues across the Sarasota-Bradenton area — including the Payne Park Tennis Center and IMG Academy — and its past champions include James Blake, Sam Querrey, and Kei Nishikori.
Sarasota's clubs and resorts round out the scene. The Payne Park Tennis Center near downtown is the city's flagship public facility, while the Longboat Key Club — where Nick Bollettieri first taught in the area — anchors a Gulf Coast resort-tennis tradition that runs through Sarasota and Manatee counties.
Notable Tennis Programs and Figures Associated with Sarasota
The Sarasota-Bradenton area has been home to some of the most influential names and institutions in modern tennis.
Program / Figure
Affiliation
Level / Era
Highlight
Home / Area
IMG Academy
Academy (founded 1978)
Former Bollettieri academy
The world's most famous tennis academy; trained Agassi, Seles, Sharapova, Courier & many more
Bradenton
Nick Bollettieri
Legendary coach (1931–2022)
Founder
Created the modern tennis academy in 1978; his first world No. 1 pupil was Boris Becker
Bradenton
The Sarasota Open
ATP Challenger / USTA Pro Circuit
Since 2008
Pro men's tennis on the Suncoast; past champions include Blake, Querrey & Nishikori
Sarasota-Bradenton
Jimmy Arias
Former ATP pro; IMG Director of Player Development
1980s star / coach
Early Bollettieri product and top-ranked pro who now leads IMG Academy tennis
Bradenton
Payne Park Tennis Center
Public Facility
Downtown Sarasota
The city's flagship public courts; a recent Sarasota Open host venue
Sarasota
High School Tennis Programs in Sarasota
Sarasota high school tennis is governed by the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA), which organizes schools into four classifications (1A–4A) by enrollment. Both boys' and girls' tennis are spring sports in Florida, advancing through district and regional rounds to the FHSAA State Championships in the Orlando area. Sarasota and Manatee counties field a deep mix of public, magnet, and independent (private) school tennis programs — and the area is also home to IMG Academy, which competes on a national prep schedule.
| Program |
League |
Program Notes |
IMG Academy Ascenders
National Prep · Bradenton
|
National Prep |
A boarding-school tennis powerhouse that competes on a national and international schedule rather than the FHSAA circuit. |
Pine View Pythons
FHSAA · Osprey / Sarasota
|
Public Magnet (FHSAA) |
A nationally recognized academic magnet school with a competitive tennis tradition. |
Riverview Rams
FHSAA · Sarasota
|
Public (FHSAA) |
A large Sarasota public high school that regularly fields competitive boys' and girls' tennis teams. |
Out-of-Door Academy Thunder
FHSAA · Sarasota
|
Independent (FHSAA) |
A Sarasota college-preparatory school with an active tennis program. |
Public & Independent Schools
FHSAA · Sarasota & Manatee
|
Public & Independent |
Schools such as Sarasota High, Cardinal Mooney, and Lakewood Ranch add depth to high school tennis across the two counties. |
Collegiate Tennis Near Sarasota
There is no major NCAA tennis program based in Sarasota itself — IMG Academy is a preparatory school, not a college. The nearest college tennis is around the Tampa Bay area to the north.
Program
Division & Conference
Area
Notes
Team Links
USF Bulls
NCAA Division I — American Conf.
Tampa
The nearest Division I tennis, with men's & women's programs in the American Conference
University of Tampa Spartans
NCAA Division II — Sunshine State
Tampa
A strong Division II program a short drive north of Sarasota
Nearby Division II
NCAA Division II
Tampa Bay area
Eckerd College (St. Petersburg) and Florida Southern (Lakeland) round out regional D-II tennis
Regional D-II
For Sarasota-area junior players, these programs offer NCAA Division I and Division II pathways within driving distance of home.
Tennis Across the Sarasota Area
Sarasota tennis is spread across the city and the wider Suncoast, each area with its own mix of academies, pro venues, private clubs, and public courts.
- Downtown Sarasota & Payne Park — The Payne Park Tennis Center, the city's flagship public courts and a recent Sarasota Open host.
- Longboat Key & the Barrier Islands — Resort tennis at the Longboat Key Club, where Nick Bollettieri first taught in the area.
- Bradenton & Manatee County — IMG Academy, the legendary Bollettieri campus, plus Bradenton clubs and public courts.
- Lakewood Ranch & East County — Master-planned community courts and country clubs in one of the area's fastest-growing communities.
- Osprey, Venice & South County — The Pine View School area and southern Sarasota County clubs and public courts.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tennis in Sarasota, FL
Where can I play tennis in Sarasota?
Sarasota offers tennis year-round on Florida's Gulf Coast. The city's main public facility is the Payne Park Tennis Center near downtown, with additional municipal and county courts across the area. Private clubs and resorts — including the Longboat Key Club — round out the options, and just north in Bradenton is IMG Academy, the legendary former Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy. Adult and junior play is coordinated through USTA Florida, with leagues, lessons, and tournaments offered throughout the year.
What is IMG Academy and the Bollettieri Tennis Academy?
IMG Academy in Bradenton, just north of Sarasota, began in 1978 as the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy — widely described as the world's first major tennis "academy." Purchased by IMG in 1987, it has grown into a 600-acre, multi-sport boarding and preparatory school with more than 50 tennis courts across hard, clay, and indoor surfaces. Players who have trained there read like a who's who of tennis, including Andre Agassi, Monica Seles, Maria Sharapova, Jim Courier, Boris Becker, and the Williams sisters.
Does Sarasota have USTA leagues or junior tennis programs?
Yes. Sarasota is part of USTA Florida — one of the 17 sections of the USTA — with active adult leagues, junior development, and sanctioned tournaments across the Gulf Coast year-round. Public facilities like Payne Park, private clubs, and the IMG Academy in nearby Bradenton run extensive junior programming. Clubs also organize doubles leagues, tournaments, and private lessons through Tennis Circuits®.
What colleges near Sarasota have NCAA tennis programs?
There is no major NCAA tennis program based in Sarasota itself — IMG Academy is a preparatory school, not a college. The nearest college tennis is around the Tampa Bay area to the north, including NCAA Division I at the University of South Florida in Tampa and NCAA Division II programs at the University of Tampa, Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, and Florida Southern in Lakeland, all within driving distance.
What makes Sarasota tennis unique compared to other cities?
Sarasota sits at the heart of one of the most tennis-rich regions in the world. Just north in Bradenton is IMG Academy — the original Bollettieri tennis "factory" that helped shape the modern power game — and the area hosts the ATP Challenger Sarasota Open. Combined with a deep club-and-resort tradition on Longboat Key, the public Payne Park Tennis Center, warm year-round weather, and a strong community culture, Sarasota offers tennis at every level from grassroots to the pro game.
Are there tennis lessons or camps available in Sarasota?
Yes. Sarasota's clubs, public facilities, resorts, and nearby academies — led by IMG Academy in Bradenton — offer private and group lessons, seasonal camps, and clinics for players of all ages and skill levels, with outdoor play available every month of the year. Tennis Circuits® Summer Camps and Clinics are also available through tenniscircuits.com, providing structured junior and adult programming for the Sarasota community throughout the year.
What is the Sarasota Open?
The Sarasota Open is a professional men's tennis tournament on the ATP Challenger Tour and USTA Pro Circuit, held in the Sarasota-Bradenton area since 2008. Over the years it has been played at several venues across the Suncoast, including the Payne Park Tennis Center and IMG Academy, and its past champions include James Blake, Sam Querrey, and Kei Nishikori. It brings pro-level men's tennis to the region each spring.
Are the clubs listed affiliated with Tennis Circuits®?
This directory lists publicly available information about tennis clubs in Sarasota, FL. Some clubs on this list use the Tennis Circuits® software platform, which provides clubs with the ability to run Tournaments, Doubles Leagues, Match Play, Summer Camps, Clinics, Lessons, JTT, Leagues, and Tennis Circuits® Club Edition. Tennis Circuits® is an official USTA Connect Partner — View Press Release (PDF).
Official USTA Connect Partner —
View press release
·
Racquet Sports Industry