Tennis Court Construction

The court is 78 feet long. Its width is 27 feet for singles matches and 36 feet for doubles matches. The service line is 21 feet from the net. Additional safety space around the court is needed in order for players to reach overrun balls for a total of 60 feet wide and 120 feet long. A net is stretched across the full width of the court, parallel with the baselines, dividing it into two equal ends. The net is 3 feet 6 inches high at the posts, and 3 feet high in the center. The net posts are 3 feet outside the doubles court on each side or, for a singles net, 3 feet outside the singles court on each side.

Based on the standard rules of tennis, the size of the court is measured to the outside of the respective baselines and sidelines.

Tennis is played on a variety of surfaces and each surface has its own characteristics which affect the playing style of the game. There are four main types of courts depending on the materials used for the court surface:

• Clay Courts
• Grass Courts
• Hard Courts
• Carpet Courts
• Turf Courts

Depending on the site, and options (fence, lighting, retaining walls, water runoff management, permits, local requirements) the basic asphalt court starts at about $90,000. A post-tensioned court is about double the price of asphalt. 

Traditionally, tennis courts have been surrounded by fencing with an overall height of 10′ to 12′, with 10′ fencing being standard. Fencing is required across the back of the court and along each sideline from the corner 20′ to 40′ up the sidelines. The area up to 40′ on either side of net can be left open or low fencing can be continued to contain rolling balls. A common configuration is to continue fencing 30′ up each sideline with the middle 60′ left open. These open configurations save money on fencing while providing enough fencing to keep all but a few balls within the court. They also improve visibility for spectators and provides room for shade structures and benches for players.

Asphalt courts are faster to construct, lower initial cost, and need more frequent maintenance. Concrete courts are more durable, low maintenance, and crack resistant. The biggest drawback to asphalt courts is that they crack (so may concrete). The difference is the concrete cracks don’t grow as wide as asphalt cracks. Asphalt can crack as wide a 2 to 4 inches. Post-tension will not allow the crack to widen, by keeping it compressed.  

Post-tensioned concrete is reinforced with a grid of high-strength sheathed steel tendons, or cables. While the concrete is curing, the cables are tensioned in both directions and held permanently under stress by anchoring them in a perimeter beam. This squeezing action keeps the concrete in compression, improving its tensile (or bending) strength. The more the concrete is squeezed together, the less likely it is that shrinkage cracks will develop or open.  

Another benefit of post-tensioning is that contractors can build larger slab using thinner concrete sections, and they do not have to install control joints which can interfere with play. Rebar reinforced concrete courts need control joints, usually at a spacing of 10 to 15 feet, including in the playing area. Overtime these joints will widen and other cracking will occur.