West Side Tennis Club Blog

Emma Gonzalez: What Our Membership Director Hears on Every Tour

West Side Tennis Club — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 16:45:22 GMT

Emma Gonzalez is the Membership Director at The West Side Tennis Club. She has given hundreds of tours, answered hundreds of questions, and helped prospective members find their footing long before they ever set foot on a court.

She shares the questions she hears most and what she tells people when they ask.

"I've Never Picked Up a Racquet." How The West Side Encourages New Players

West Side Tennis Club — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Not everyone who joins The West Side Tennis Club is a tennis player — at least, not yet. Some members arrive with little to no experience with racquet sports. Some join for the pool, the community, or the concerts. Others might be open to wherever membership takes them, including the courts.

How Indoor Courts Improved Lucy Huang's Tennis Game

West Side Tennis Club — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 13:30:00 GMT

Caroline Huang had never played tennis before 2021. Her daughter Lucy, now 11, had never held a racquet. Like so many New York families coming out of the pandemic, they were searching for a place to work out and stay active.

Mike Sobotka's First Year at The West Side: Why January Was the Perfect Time to Join

West Side Tennis Club — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 20:56:01 GMT

Mike Sobotka didn't plan to join a tennis club in January. But when his longtime club on Long Island closed last April, he faced a choice: wait for warmer weather or start building his new tennis life immediately.

The Parent Network: Friendships That Form During Junior Tennis

West Side Tennis Club — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 14:00:07 GMT

The logistics of children's activities in the city can feel isolating. You drop off at one location, pick up at another, and rarely see the same faces twice. Between coordinating schedules and navigating different neighborhoods, you're managing your kids' social lives while your own network stays frustratingly small.

What Winter Looks Like for the Wu Family at The West Side Tennis Club

West Side Tennis Club — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 17:52:10 GMT

When Lawrence and Mae Wu joined The West Side Tennis Club 5 years ago, they lived just a block away but had never stepped inside.

How the Original U.S. Open Courts Became A Neighborhood Oasis

West Side Tennis Club — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Every September, tennis fans from around the world descend on Flushing Meadows to watch the U.S. Open. The crowds, the noise, the energy, it's everything a Grand Slam should be.

I Don't Play Tennis, But The West Side Is My Favorite Place: Abha Jain's Story

West Side Tennis Club — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 15:00:01 GMT

When Abha Jain joined The West Side Tennis Club five years ago, she had never picked up a tennis racket. Growing up in India, badminton was her sport. But she was in her 70s by the time she moved to Forest Hills and had no intention of learning a new game.

Indoor and Outdoor Connections: Why a Year-Round Tennis Community Changes Everything in New York

West Side Tennis Club — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 15:00:07 GMT

Every spring in New York, tennis courts across the city fill with players eager to return after months away.

From Sideline Parent to Court Advocate: Rich Collins' Tennis Transformation

West Side Tennis Club — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 14:59:59 GMT

Rich Collins spent two years walking past tennis courts he never thought he'd use. When his family joined West Side Tennis Club in 2015, they wanted a neighborhood pool for their kids, ages three and five.