Long Beach is a Tennis Town
Long Beach was recognized as a “Tennis Town” by the U.S. Tennis Association Southern California recently, marking a proud moment in the city’s long and storied tennis history. Fittingly, the award was presented at the El Dorado Park Tennis Center during the finals of the 95th annual Long Beach Open, emblematic of the city’s deep-rooted connection to the sport and its thriving community of players, coaches, fans and legends.
THE VERY DEFINITION OF “TENNIS TOWN”
“Tennis Towns” is a new initiative by USTA SoCal designed to celebrate cities that have built strong tennis cultures through exceptional facilities, inclusive programming and successful local competition. Throw in local tennis stars who have gone on to not only change the sport but American society as well, and Long Beach checks every box.
PLAY ON
With 65 public tennis courts spread across the city, access to the sport is easy and affordable. Facilities like the Billie Jean King Tennis & Pickleball Center (1040 Park Ave) at Recreation Park and the El Dorado Park Tennis & Pickleball Center (2800 Studebaker Rd) serve as community hubs, offering everything from youth lessons and beginner clinics to high-level coaching and tournaments. Both centers feature pro shops, equipment rentals, and certified instruction, ensuring players of all ages and skill levels can find a place on the court.
BILLIE JEAN
Of course, any conversation about tennis in Long Beach begins with one person: Billie Jean King. Born and raised in the city, King is not only one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, with 39 Grand Slam titles in both singles and doubles, but is also one of the most significant American athletes along with fellow Southern California icon Jackie Robinson. King’s advocacy for gender equality and social justice reshaped tennis specifically and sports more broadly. Her victory over Bobby Riggs in the 1973 “Battle of the Sexes” remains a cultural touchstone.
So great is King’s influence that the city didn’t just name its flagship tennis center after her, it also named its Main Library in her honor, offering a daily reminder of her legacy and the values she championed. (Oh, and the USTA named its national tennis center—home of the US Open—the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Before players step onto Center Court, the last thing they see is a sign bearing her quote: “Pressure is a privilege.”)
COMMUNITY
The local tennis culture that helped develop Billie Jean King truly sets Long Beach apart as tennis here is more than just a pastime, it’s a community. On any given weekend, parks are filled with recreational players, youth teams and older adults rallying well into the evening. The sport has become a thread that connects neighborhoods, cultures and generations.
WINNERS
That community has translated into competitive success as well. Long Beach high schools and colleges have consistently dominated regional competition and produced champions. Long Beach Poly High School has long been a powerhouse, with CIF-SS boys’ titles in 1997, 1999 and 2000, and a CIF girls’ championship in 2021. Wilson High School joined the elite circle by winning its first CIF tennis championship in 2023, a testament to the growing talent across the city. At the collegiate level, Cal State Long Beach has been a force on the national stage, capturing two NCAA national championships and continuing to develop elite-level players.
FOR EVERYONE
Billie Jean King has said that “tennis is for everyone,” and in Long Beach, that ideal is alive and well. The USTA’s recognition of Long Beach as a “Tennis Town” only affirms what locals have known for decades: this is a place where tennis thrives, from courts in our local parks to championship stages to cultural game changers.
