Yes, you can play tennis at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, the same venue that hosts the US Open. Public players can reserve indoor or outdoor hard courts during much of the year without being professional competitors or tournament participants.
However, you cannot simply arrive and walk onto an empty court. Every player needs a profile, waiver, advance reservation and government-issued photo ID. The main US Open show courts are also excluded from normal public bookings, and the entire facility closes for several weeks around the tournament.
The complete guide to the US Open explains the wider tournament, venue and spectator experience. This article focuses specifically on playing tennis at the venue outside the event.
Is the National Tennis Center Open to the Public?
The National Tennis Center is a public tennis facility in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens. The US Open has been played at the venue since 1978, an important milestone covered in this guide to US Open history and records.
Its normal published operating hours are 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. every day. Actual court availability depends on existing reservations, tennis programs, private events, maintenance and seasonal closures.
Public access does not mean unrestricted access to the grounds. Open-time players must have a paid court reservation and check in before entering the courts. People who only want to see the venue can request a guided tour on selected dates, but visitors are not permitted to explore the grounds independently.
Tours are normally offered during much of the year but stop during the US Open and its setup period. Court players and tour visitors should therefore confirm current access before travelling to the venue.
Which US Open Courts Can You Play On?
The USTA lists 22 outdoor hard courts within the main National Tennis Center, including its principal stadiums, and 12 indoor courts. It also lists 12 additional courts in the adjacent Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.
These numbers describe the wider court inventory. They do not mean that every court can be selected through the normal public reservation system.
Standard open-time reservations provide one of the following:
- An available outdoor hard court
- An available indoor hard court
The specific court is assigned by staff when you check in. Players cannot request a particular court number during the online booking process.
Public play takes place on hard courts. This guide to how tennis court surfaces differ explains how hard courts compare with clay and grass in terms of bounce, speed and movement.
The ordinary full-size courts use the regulation layout explained in this tennis court dimensions and size guide. Junior programs may use modified court sizes and lower-compression balls according to the players’ ages and levels.
Public players may be assigned one of the non-stadium field courts within the same complex used around the US Open. However, a reservation does not guarantee a particular competition or practice court.
The following courts are excluded from standard bookings:
- Arthur Ashe Stadium
- Louis Armstrong Stadium
- Grandstand
- Court 17
These courts may occasionally be available through the National Tennis Center’s venue-rental department for corporate events, group experiences or other specially arranged occasions. This is separate from ordinary hourly court rental, and individual players should not expect to book Arthur Ashe Stadium for a casual hitting session.
How to Reserve a Tennis Court
Court reservations are completed online through the National Tennis Center’s booking system. Phone and walk-in court reservations are not accepted.
1. Create a Player Profile
Every person who intends to play needs a complete National Tennis Center profile. The person making the reservation does not have to identify the other players during checkout, but those players still need their own profiles before arriving.
A standard open-time reservation can include no more than four players on one court.
2. Complete the Annual Waiver
Each player must have a valid waiver before participating. Adults complete their own waiver, while the primary account holder must complete it for a player under 18.
The booking system will prompt players whose waiver has not been completed during the previous 12 months.
3. Book Within the Reservation Window
Open-time reservations become available no more than 48 hours before the date of play. This short booking window means visitors cannot guarantee a court several weeks or months before travelling to New York.
Choose an indoor or outdoor court category, select an available time and pay the full court fee online. Indoor pricing varies according to the day and whether the booking falls within a prime-time period, while outdoor courts have a separate rate.
Court bookings are final once payment is completed. Voluntary cancellations, adjustments and rescheduling do not normally receive a refund or credit. If an outdoor court becomes unplayable because of bad weather, the facility’s separate inclement-weather policy may provide a refund or short-term rescheduling option.
If you are arranging tennis as part of a larger trip, these tips for playing tennis while traveling can help with equipment, partners and alternative courts.
4. Arrive Early and Check In
Players should arrive approximately 15 minutes before the reservation and report to the front desk in the Chase/Indoor Training Center. Every player must check in and present government-issued photo ID before going on court.
Staff will provide the court assignment at check-in. Players may enter only the court assigned to them and should not begin before their reserved time.
Additional time may be available if the next booking slot remains open. Continuing beyond the original reservation results in an additional charge to the payment card on file.
What Players Need to Bring
Bring the same basic equipment required for an ordinary hard-court session, together with the identification and confirmation needed for venue access. New players can use this beginner tennis equipment checklist to prepare.
The essential items are:
- Government-issued photo ID
- Tennis racket
- No more than six tennis balls
- Proper tennis shoes
- Water bottle
- Comfortable tennis clothing
- Sun protection and weather-appropriate clothing for outdoor play
Food and drinks other than water are not permitted on the courts. Lockers are available for day use, but belongings cannot be stored overnight, and players remain responsible for their possessions.
The on-site pro shop sells rackets, balls, shoes, strings and other equipment. Demo rackets may also be available, but players should contact the shop beforehand to confirm the terms and availability instead of assuming that a free loan will be provided.
Indoor ball-machine rentals are available by advance arrangement. Players must first confirm that a machine is available, book an indoor court for the corresponding time and then ask the front desk to add the machine.
Outside ball machines, baskets, hoppers and ball carts are not permitted. Photography and video recording also require written permission from National Tennis Center management, so do not plan to film a practice session without approval.
Lessons and Tennis Programs at the Venue
The National Tennis Center offers private instruction, adult group programs, junior development pathways, camps, workshops and play-based sessions. Programs are available for complete beginners through advanced players.
Private instruction can be arranged in several formats:
- One player with one professional
- Two-player semi-private lessons
- Small-group lessons for three or four players
Outside instructors are not allowed to teach at the facility. Anyone seeking coaching must work with a member of the National Tennis Center’s professional staff.
New students above beginner level generally need an NTC rating before joining a group program. This is the venue’s own placement system and is not identical to an NTRP rating. Evaluations are available by advance appointment, while complete beginners can contact the program staff to receive an introductory rating without an on-court evaluation.
Adult programs include beginner instruction, rally development, stroke-focused sessions, doubles drills, competitive classes and play-based activities. Junior pathways cover younger beginners, developing recreational players and advanced competitors, with camps also offered during selected school breaks and summer periods.
Players deciding between an individual session and a group class may find this comparison of whether private tennis lessons are worth it useful before registering.
When the Courts Close for the US Open
The National Tennis Center closes public court operations before the US Open begins. The closure starts early enough for tournament construction, court preparation, security work and player facilities to be installed, and it continues after the finals while the venue is returned to normal use.
For the 2026 US Open, the National Tennis Center is closed to the public from August 3 through September 20. These dates extend beyond the tournament itself and should not be treated as a permanent annual schedule.
The exact closure period can change each year. Anyone planning a late-summer visit should check the current facility notice and online booking calendar before arranging travel.
Fan Week may provide free public access to the grounds during part of this period, but that does not mean recreational courts are available. Visitors during Fan Week attend tournament practices, qualifying matches and scheduled activities rather than booking an ordinary hitting session.
Once the event begins, courts are assigned according to the tournament schedule. This guide explains how the US Open order of play is made and why different matches are placed on particular courts and sessions.
Facility tours are also unavailable during the US Open and its setup period. If playing at the venue is the purpose of your trip, choose a date well outside the annual tournament closure.
How to Reach the National Tennis Center
The National Tennis Center is located at:
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
Flushing Meadows-Corona Park
Flushing, NY 11368
By Subway
From Manhattan, take a Flushing-bound 7 train to Mets-Willets Point. The 7 train can be boarded at major Manhattan stations including Times Sq-42 St and Grand Central-42 St.
Check current service information before travelling because weekend construction and service changes can affect the route. From Mets-Willets Point, follow signs toward the National Tennis Center.
By Long Island Rail Road
The Port Washington Branch serves Mets-Willets Point from Penn Station, Grand Central Madison and Woodside, but not every train necessarily stops there. Check the current schedule before boarding.
The LIRR station at Mets-Willets Point is not fully accessible. Travelers who require an accessible route should leave the LIRR at Woodside and transfer to the 7 train at 61st Street-Woodside.
By Car
Parking Lot B is designated for open-time court players and program participants. The Chase/Indoor Training Center, where players check in, is located beside this parking area.
If Lot B is full, the National Tennis Center directs visitors to Lot D or the Ashe Loading Dock parking area. Drivers can approach through Grand Central Parkway Exit 9E or Whitestone Expressway Exit 13D.
Mass transit is generally the simplest option, particularly when another event is taking place in Flushing Meadows. Allow enough time to reach the Indoor Training Center, present your identification and complete check-in before the reservation begins.
Playing at the home of the US Open is therefore possible, but it requires more planning than visiting an ordinary public court. Reserve online within the 48-hour booking window, bring the required identification and equipment, and avoid the annual tournament closure period.