Do you dream of becoming the next Serena Williams or Roger Federer? Whether you want to become a tennis star or you are just looking for a fun sport to stay in shape, building a tennis court is a great place to start. There are several different considerations you need to take into account whenever you are ready to build your tennis court, and this quick start guide will help you build the perfect court.

Understand Tennis Court Dimensions

You can build a tennis court that is any size to fit your yard or facility, but if you want to practice on a court that is set up for international standards, it should measure 78 feet long by 36 feet wide for doubles matches, and 78 feet long by 27 feet wide for a singles match.

Purchase Quality Equipment

Once you have the proper layout for your court, the next step is to outfit it with the right equipment. There are dozens of accessories you can purchase for a tennis court, but you want to start with the basics.

The Net – This should be 42 feet wide, which is wider than the doubles width of the court by 3 feet on each side. For competition standards, it should be 3.5 feet high at the posts, which means it will be 3 feet high in the center since it will sag a little bit.

Net Posts – These 3.5 foot posts hold the net, and are placed 3 feet outside of the doubles sideline, measuring not wider than 6 inches.

Get the Right Accessories

Now that you have the court set for international standards, the next step is to get all the right accessories.

For at-home tennis courts, you might want to have things like benches, awnings or cabanas for shading, lighting to play at night, backboard, rebounders, windscreens, ball machines, ball baskets, and water coolers.

For tennis courts at recreation or fitness centers or other public areas, you might want some additional items to facilitate multiple matches, and fans. Other items to consider might include dividers between courts, benches with awnings or cabanas, bleachers, lighting, windscreens, umpire chairs, scorekeepers, message boards, and water coolers.

Getting the right equipment from the beginning can ensure that you build a great tennis court and keep it well maintained for years to come.