Australian Open - Plans, Photos and Tickets

Grand Slam Ticket Fan Giveaways!

Australian Open - Super Fan Guide

Want to watch the pros at the Aussie Open up close and visit Melbourne?

Australian Open tickets now available from Ticketmaster (via mobile app).

Middle weekend public tickets have been "exhausted" or SOLD OUT already.

Fan Warning: DO NOT buy tickets at the AO Box Office the day of the match - get them online.


Personal bad experience with Ticket Office:
They will sell you a very poor seat selection, claim it is the "only available" one and then overcharge you, especially if you are an international fan.

This happened to me at their main box office for a Margret Court match as I wanted to see Osaka. The cashier even told me to try to resell my ticket on Ticketek - which is impossible after the session starts. Buy them online the night before once you know the Order of Play.

I had a "big camera" but the 200mm is allowed which they ask you a lot of questions but have few real answers, mostly vague guesses - hint: they aren't trained properly and cannot be reliable for any info including the practice schedule which was completely bogus this year.

Get the right tickets to watch Roger LIVE here at the VIP Hospitality Lounge

More info for our fans who like and subscribe on Facebook.

Australian Open

For a first-time fan, check out our Australian Open pictures for an idea of what to expect.

Happy Tennis Fan from Brazil
Rod Laver Arena

Melbourne is a great city to visit and escape the cold winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

Their "Labor Day" or "Australia Day" happens at the end of their summer and usually occurs around the end of the tournament (late January).

It is cheapest to fly direct from NYC or LA, but it is worth the long flight.

So much to see in Victoria and Australia, I did a layover in Sydney - hope you can come join in the fun with us.

Also, if you can tie it into a longer layover such as a pit stop in Sydney or Fiji - all the better. I recommend getting a cheap flight to Asia, from there flights will be much cheaper than going directly from the USA.

Known as the "Fun Slam" or "Asian Slam" - it's also the Pacific Slam.

Tennis-Bargains...Bringing smiles and great deals to all our fans!

Raonic Fan from Canada
Hisense (Melbourne) Arena

These were some fellow American (North and South American) tennis fans who loved the sport but were stuck outside with no more tickets left, so we wanted to give them a chance to see some great tennis.

US Open Tennis Tickets on Sale Now

The Grounds Pass Deals

Consider buying a "Grounds Pass" that lets you be selective about which sessions to attend*. Similar to the US Open, they do not kick you out of the outer courts once the night sessions start.

You can also upgrade them to a seat at Laver or Melbourne Arena for a small fee.

Helping passionate fans is what we're all about. Sharing tennis love all over the world.

Aussie Open Discount Tickets on sale now

At every tennis event (Indian Wells and Miami in March) we give away any extra tickets to our most deserving fans. For a chance to win, follow us on Facebook!

US Open: Thanks to all our Fans!

Wrapping up Summer of Tennis

First off, just want to thank all our fans and all our supporters for making this the most successful US Open and Summers of Tennis we've ever had!

I appreciate all the positive comments and amazing stories in fan mail I've gotten back from our fans who have been lucky enough to go see the US Open first hand. Practically everyone had at least one or two great memories to share with us.

SUBSCRIBE FOR OUR FUTURE US OPEN TIPS EMAILS
PLUS MORE US OPEN TICKET DISCOUNT CODES!

Email Address

Sharing the Tennis Love

I have been fortunate and blessed to be able to travel around the world to see so many ATP and WTA tournaments. Plus, finally pulling out all the stops to see the Aussie Open in 2013 - to finally complete the "4 Grand Fan Majors or Slams" - is an amazing journey I love sharing.

Coming back to the US Open (my favorite slam) over the years, it's a very rewarding feeling to meet and talk to so many who are enjoying it too.

Especially all the young kids at the US Open Arthur Ashe Day this year - it looked like a record to me! It was great to see all the Volunteers helping out with the USTA for free, because you know those are the ones doing it for the love of the game.

It was amazing to see young 15 year old CiCi Bellas play fearlessly and win the first round! Plus you never know when our next Andre Agassi or Serena Williams may have been inspired by just being there.

We hope to keep this Tennis-Bargains tradition of helping out tennis fans all over the world get to the Open with some help from our promo codes and ticket giveaways!

Giving back to the Game

Giving away a few US Open tickets each year is hardly "philanthropy" but the best feeling comes from knowing that someone out there in the world got to enjoy some great tennis because of this site.

Especially when we find someone at their first Grand Slam ever - I personally remember how happy and excited I was knowing I was going to  go to my first professional match and hope we can share that same experience with as many people as possible.

We try hard to be the "Robin Hood of tennis" - looking out for the little guy. It is wonderful to know that we can highlight the 2-for-1 ticket offers so that everyone has a chance to see the big game with a friend.

Helping all tennis fans: one Promo Code and one Tennis Deal at a time

We hope that you were able to get some good deals, find some elusive tickets and shared some fun times with your friends, family and the fan sitting to the left and right of you =)

We want everyone to have a great time whether you watched it from home or in NYC.

Enjoy the US Open Finals everyone and see you guys next year!!
- JC (@TennisBargains)

Serving for our Troops - DC Charity Event 2014

Serving for Heroes Charity Open - DC Tennis Charity Event 2014 (July 19-20, 2014)

Tennis-Bargains.com a 2014 sponsor this DC tournament and charity drive.

We are very proud to support this great cause and the heroes they serve.

June 2013 with my doubles partner at the players' party in DC

The Charity raised over $3,400 for the Wounded Warriors Foundation in June.

Thanks to the fans, players, and donors who contributed to the players' party proceeds

Please support the Wounded Warrior Foundation
by making a donation here.

For more information and how to join the Charity Tournament:

• Event Flyer
• Tournament Facebook Page
• USTA Tennis Tournament Registration
  Reston, VA (July 19-20, 2014)

Message from the Tournament Director

Thank you again for your support in the Serving For Heroes Charity Open and, ultimately, in the Wounded Warrior Project.

- Wilson Paine

Black Friday Tennis Deals 2013

Black Friday Sale going on NOW!

See some of the deals you may have missed...

2012 Winners of Tennis-Bargains "Top Tennis Awards"!

Tennis-Bargains 2012 Award Categories

#1 DC Pro Shop of the Year: 

Tennis Topia (Rockville, MD)

Great selection, expert advice from pro staff led by Terrell with our Tennis Bargains endorsed specials almost every week with their email newsletter. 

Our favorite Tennis Bargain on-going deal is their weekday $25 off $50 Groupon special.

Owned and run by Darrell Haines (DC's Tennis Drilling and Golf) - they have been a staple of Washington Tennis for well over 20 years.

#1 DC Academy or Club of the Year

Four Seasons Tennis Club (Merrifield, VA)

Great junior program, lots of lessons, USTA leagues and programs for adults at great rates for winter indoor courts. Good quality court surfaces which are relatively new and not too fast. Outdoor facilities includes har tru and hard courts outdoors. Central location off I-495 with very senior staff run by Bob Pass.

• Honorable Mentions:
• Rock Creek Park Tennis Center (Rock Creek, DC) - Great public outdoor hard courts created for DC's ATP 500 Citi Open is held here annually, with brand new practice courts this year; The tennis complex also has bubble for 4 indoor courts in the winter
• TCCP (College Park, MD) | TennisPlex (Germantown, MD) - *brand new facilities*

#1 Tennis Racket Stringer in Washington DC Area

Scott Nilsen from Tennis Topia (Rockville, MD)

We've tried many different stringers from clubs/shops all across in MD/DC/VA. This place is without a doubt the most consistent and dependable quality string jobs in the DC Metro area with an excellent turn around time (same day). They were also our official stringers for all the 2013 Tennis Racket Play-Testing

DC's Tennis Coach and Trainer of the Year

Yann Auzoux and Dan Riser - FifthSet.com

• Washington Post's Coach of the Year (2008, 2010)
• Excellent YouTube videos - footwork technique
• Entire Tennis Library of Online Courses available
• Dan Riser (US Men's Fitness) "Prepping Like a Pro" - training course provides expert professional advice for keeping tennis athletes strong, fit and ready for competition

2012 Tennis Racket of the Year

Head Speed (18x20)

World #1: Novak Djokovic's racket

Excellent all-around racket at 100 sq. inches and for players looking for a 11oz+ racket that is still manuverable and allows the player to hit from many different positions and even when late (as you see Djokvic do from all sorts of contorted stances).

Honorable Mention for most innovative 2013 racket:

Wilson's Steam 99S

2012 Tennis String of the Year

Natural Gut Category: Wilson Natural Gut 17g

Narrowly beats out Babolat Tonic+ Gut - the new BT7 coating adds some durability to Natural Gut, but we felt it did not seem to keep the elastic qualities of fresh gut strings as long as Wilson.

However, Babolat VS Gut was a bit more durable before fraying. For those who want the best, Wilson Gut is simply unbeatable when it comes to playability and spin when you add it to the Main strings. That way you can get two uses out of a single bag (~$42)

Poly/Co-Poly: Luxilon 4G

Great all around string, softer poly and solid durability for string breakers; recommended string of choice for the 2013 Wilson's Steam 99S.

Affordable prices from the top polyester string brand in the ATP/WTA tour.

We would also recommend you try Luxilon Ace 18 and ALU Power 16 to get a good comparison with spin and power potential, respectively.

Award Criteria and Selection Process

Winners and Honorable Mentions were be selected based on:

1. Our fan reviews and feedback
2. Tennis industry expert opinions
3. Our own "mystery shopper" report cards

Congrats to all of this year's winners! We also want to say Thanks to all our fans, students and friends online for providing your valuable input to us.

Happy Thanksgiving: Our Turkey Warmup and Workout Tips

Gobble Gobble! Happy Thanksgiving! Hey Tennis Fans! Here's a quick Pre-Thanksgiving Tennis workout you can do in your own home or tennis court. Here are some easy 5-min warm up exercises - to stay in shape before the big meal this Thanksgiving Thursday Or preemptively burn off a couple pounds, get pumped up for all your holiday shopping on Black Friday* From our Tennis-Bargains Team: "Stay Fit. Shop Smart. Play Tennis" "Prepping Like a Pro" Instructors: Dan Riser - Former US Men's Fitness Champion; has appeared regularly on the show Flex Appeal on ESPN  Yann Auzoux - Former Davis Cup Player for Cameroon, ATP Doubles Champion, and Former ITF #7 in the world.  They have teamed up for this brand new video course together for this "Prepping Like a Pro" Training Course - we're launching it live to the general public very soon this December... Sign up for Full Course Here @ www.FifthSet.com What's Unique about these Training Courses? Tennis-specific Workout Course designed for *Winter Tennis Players*: Stay in tennis-shape off the court Be fit and ready at the top of your game, when you come back on the tennis courts! Strength, conditioning, speed, endurance drills Training Specifically for Tennis - not just a bunch of random P90X and Cross-Fit workouts mixed together... This is exactly what Yann Auzoux himself trains with every week; it's designed for serious tennis players in mind. Special Tennis-Bargains Bonus Offer Tennis-Bargains Facebook Fans: get an extra Free Bonus Session: Here's sneak-peak example, filmed during my workout last weekend with Dan and Yann in this video.  This One-Hour Live Training Session will allow Dan to give you personalized, individual feedback on doing these exercises. *Hurry - spaces are very limited*. Offer is only valid, if these remaining spots in these classes are still available.

More Clearance Tennis Sales for 2012

Tennis Express - 80% OFF Clearance

*Get Additional 15% OFF Fall Clearance!* - Apparel and Shoes

"A15" = Use for Extra 15% off Apperal
"S15" - Use for Extra 15% off Shoes

Want more Tennis Deals and Coupons?
Check out our Facebook Page

Free Youth Tennis Events this Fall

Get Your Kids Active - Give the Gift of Tennis!

September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month and tennis is a great way to get your kids active! Join the USTA and support our drive to fight Childhood Obesity with Tennis!
Kids (of all ages) can try out the sport at some of these free fun events - rackets, nets and courts that are sized right for their age.

From September 1 through October 31, these events are for kids of all ages and skill levels.
Find a local youth tennis event near you!

Tennis Singles Playbook - New Online Course from FYB

The Singles Playbook

12/18 8PM Update: Full-Access Trial Offer has expired!

Bonus Clip: "Video Bootcamp" is now included inside the members section.

$21 US Open Tickets (8/29/11 - 9/8/11) - Limited amount left!

Updated 7/26/11 -
For link and promo code:
Visit Facebook.com/TennisBargains and click the "Like" button to view the Coupons tab.

US Open Tickets for $21!!

Today, a friend of mine told me about this $21 promo they are doing for US Open tickets.

I got 4 tickets at this price already! But there aren't many left..

Note: Even after the convenience charges/fees from TicketMaster it comes out to be about $25 a ticket. Still a deal!

Tennis-Bargain Tip: Grab these fast before they all disappear! You can use Ashe Tickets during the first week to go to ALL other stadiums and courts (Armstrong, Grandstand and all side courts)...it is first come first serve seating, so just get to the EAST gates early in the morning! See more US Open tips here

US Open Ashe 2011 Tickets - $37.20 (after fees) Promo Code for my Facebook Fans

Update (9/20) - Promo Code is now live at: Facebook.com/TennisBargains (Coupons Section)


The last set of US Open promos (AMEX pre-sale, buy 1 get 1 free) sold out really quickly...

Therefore for these next set of promo codes, we will let our Facebook and Twitter Fans have priority access before they become available to the public.

These 2011 promo codes are for Ashe day sessions during the 2nd week - including the Men's Round of 16/QF's and/or Women's Quarterfinals and Semifinals, for as low as $37.20 each!

Update: Looks like most Night session tickets are also available for both 1st and 2nd week ($24-$34.20 each)

Visit Facebook.com/TennisBargains and click the "Like" button to view the Coupons tab.


Many thanks from all the Google+ tennis fans out there!!
Please share the love for Tennis-Bargains with a

As soon as the codes are released, you will also be notified on your Facebook wall, Twitter account, or Google+ circle. Check back here for more updates and ticket promos this summer!

Legg Mason 2011 Ticket Specials!

Legg Mason Tennis Classic - ATP 500 Event - Washington, DC

National Parks Recreation Family Day Saturday, July 30 Gates open at 9am Families (up to six persons with a minimum of one child under 18 years of age) will be admitted for FREE at this year's National Parks Recreation Family Day! The first 3,000 people to sign up at the following registration link will receive a free reserved seat ticket and lunch voucher courtesy of Guest Services, Inc. Tickets and food vouchers will be available for pick up on-site on Saturday, July 30 at the North Gate. Registration will close once we reach capacity! The day will feature exciting activities and entertainment including moon bounces, games, face painters and local team mascots as well as the 2nd annual pet adoption to help The Washington Animal Rescue League find homes for loving cats and dogs. Military Appreciation Day          Sunday, July 31 Gates open at 9am Members of the military who present their military ID at the box office will receive complimentary tickets (limit four [4] free tickets per person) for Sunday's session! The day's activities will include a Military Enlistment ceremony, Honor Guard and Color Guard, in addition to a flag unfurling and physical fitness competitions. In advance of the tournament, Military Appreciation Day partner, the USO Metro, will be distributing tickets at various tickets for military personnel. Check back on our website soon for specific distribution dates and locations.    USTA Member Appreciation Day Monday, August 1 Gates open at 3pm USTA members who present their membership card at the box office will receive a 2-for-1 discount (limit four [4] free tickets per person) on reserved tickets for the Monday, August 1 session.

US Open Tickets - Amex Seats (as low as $22, buy one get one)

Update:

The American Express Preferred Seating Tickets allow you to purchase specifically reserved seats that are closer than the rest of the general public tickets for Ashe Stadium!

• Use the Promo Code "incentur" and click the checkbox.
• Select the "American Express Preferred Seating" option to highlight those seats.
• Checkout with your American Express card to secure your VIP seats*

The seats you will see are much closer to the front for just a fraction. Some sessions offer a Buy One Get One option (see picture below) so you can save even more!

Deals Still Available on TicketExchange

Try this: TicketExchange for US Open Tickets link to buy/sell US Open tickets on popular dates - directly from fans, by fans. Plus it is all validated by Ticketmater so you know you're getting genuine tickets!

Pre-sale ends in a week and quantities are limited! Remember you must use an American Express card to pay...if you apply for one, you also get these other great US Open perks on-site when you actually get to New York as well!

They have preferred seating available,as well as some dates with a buy 1, get 1 option available (Sept 6-8).

Subscribe for our 2016 US Open Free Tips Email
plus more Ticket Discount Codes in June-Aug!

Email Address 

For more exclusive US Open promos and coupons:
"Like" Us on Facebook then click on the "Coupons" tab

You can get tickets as low as $22, for evening Ashe Stadium tickets.

Stay tuned in the next month or two, for more US Open savings and ideas like last year!

Watch Tennis TV Live - without a TV!

Never miss another game again! Plus get the latest ATP and WTA tournaments LIVE...from anywhere in the world year round.

No expensive cable subscriptions for HD quality tennis broadcasts from around the world.

Available on your PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, etc
Save up to 85% on subscription rate for yearly plans

Also get $30 for being a USTA member here: http://www.tennistv.com/page/USTAoffer
Replays and interviews available for members. Offer is available exclusively from TennisTV.com!

Yes or No - Tennis "String Thing" Tool Review

Product Review by Chris
Chris is a USPTR Coach and Professional Stringer with over 10 years of experience. Below is his review on the Tennis "String Thing" tool that is being sold on TV.

It is designed to be rolled along the string bed and is claimed to be made of a very durable plastic material. I was a bit skeptical when I saw this $20 product...

Agassi Agassi: Tennis Hall of Fame 2011

Book Review of Andre Agassi' Open

He was inducted into this year's Tennis Hall of Fame. Winner of the all 4 Tennis Majors and the Olympic Gold medal for the USA, he is a living legend of the game.

I highlight recommend you take his Udemy course even though it's only 1 player in 1080p, there's great content here. If you can't afford the full 50+ modern players for a TopCourt subscription of $15/month this is the next best online course!

Klipping's If -- poem:

"If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

   And treat those two impostors just the same"

This tennis epiphany of treating Success and Failure the same.

YouTube lesson of Andre Agassi's 'Second Summit' in his career. After falling from World #1 and returning to the Challenger circuit to start again.

As a New Year's resolution, I pledged to finish reading his book, Open: An Autobiography. It wasn't hard, as I just had less than 100 pages left. But the final chapters were so good and the book was so tough to put down, that I completed my resolution on Day 1!

I realized that I was right around the age when Agassi just completed his career Grand Slam, and divorced his first wife (actress) Brooke Shields. He took his personal life in a whole new direction and made a lot of noteworthy contributions - not only back to the game of tennis, but to Education and Life at his preparatory school and academy in Las Vegas.

It was interesting to hear his perspective and stories while he was in Washington DC at Legg Mason.  I wonder what that homeless guy did with those tennis rackets he "donated" to him?

If you are a tennis fan - I would highly recommend this book. It changed my own perspective on my childhood...the pressures that a parent's pre-determined ambitions or a sport can weigh so heavily on a grown man's soul.

If you buy this book from my link, send me an email about what you thought about it or just post up a comment. I will personally send you an Amazon Gift Card to you. It is *that* good and I know you'll enjoy reading it (also available on the Kindle).

Review of the Top DC Indoor Tennis Clubs - Haines Point

East Potomac Tennis Club (EPTC) - Haines Point, DC

East Potomac Tennis Center - Washington DC Location (1st exit off I-395N): Map and Info

• 4 Indoor courts under bubble = Good
• 9 outdoor hard courts - Very Good
• Har Tru Clay courts - Below Average

East Potomac Tennis Club
1st Annual Club Championship
Men's Open Singles (Winner and Finalist)

Facility = B+
Stays fairly warm inside the bubble which has a sealed revolving door to get in. Even though this place has been around for a while, it is still in a very popular, centralized location near the border of VA/DC.

With some of the felt and dust accumulating inside, it could use a good vacuum!

There is usually enough parking outside but it is a short walk/run from the parking lot to get inside. If there is an event happening, you may have to find street parking.

2016 Update:
Brand new 9 hard door courts resurfaced! Blue and solid bounce (no cracks). The clay courts are still dusty deserts though, but barring that, this is a GREAT place to play.

The 1st Annual Club Championship was held here over 9/10/16-9/11/16. I was Men's Singles Champion against a tough opponent.

Staff = A

I've had a couple group lessons here before and the pros are not bad, although it can be on the expensive side if you want private lessons from them ($70/hr).  Here is a list of their lessons offerings and price list but if you can organize a small group, they usually have discounts. It's $30/hr for drop-in lessons.

I'd recommend Scott for any kids tennis. He's a very mellow guy and was the former director over at Hilton Head, SC. He has a great sense of tennis history and event management.

Cost = B

Update: The prices have gone up from popularity* Now they hover around $40 per hour (peak and non-peak). About average for the DC area. However, you do NOT need to join a membership program. Therefore, for the infrequent player, this makes for a great choice.

Availability = C

It can be hard to reserve your own court time as this place can be quite busy in the winter. But usually, if you call a week ahead, during a non-booked slot, you can usually get in.

Just remember that you have to pre-pay over the phone if you are not a member, so make sure you and your partner coordinate ahead of time and have a credit card ready. Still no online booking yet!

Overall = B

If you live close to Haines Point and can book ahead of time, this place is a great bargain!

How we rate DC's Tennis Facilities and Clubs

A lot of people have been asking about good deals for indoor tennis courts, and as promised, I will begin writing reviews of local clubs as a "tennis critic".For starters, here is a good listing of tennis clubs with indoor facilities in the DC metro area (VA/MD/DC).

Please note, I will only review the DC indoor tennis clubs that I have personally attended and can provide my assessment of the following categories on a scale from [A] excellent to [E] fail.

I've compiled some more tips on playing Indoor Tennis this winter. Subscribe below for more info and updates!


Tennis-Bargains deals and promo codes for tennis. Around major holiday and events, we will update you with any Indoor Tennis Parties near your zip code!

For my calculations, I will estimate that the average tennis player will want to play once every week during the winter and will bring 1 friend (guest) to split the costs. I'll let you know if their membership is worth it for frequent players (2-3 times/week in the winter).

======
1) Facility - How are the courts? How is the lighting? Is everything clean, well maintained?
2) Staff - How experienced are the average pros teaching there? Are the staff friendly toward you and new non-member guests?
3) Cost - How inexpensive is it to get a membership and court time to play?  (1 = $50/hr/person to 5 = $10/hr/person)
4) Availability - Can you get the court you want when you want it? (1 = Call in a week ahead, 5 = Almost always a court available)
5) Overall - Considering all factors, would you join/play here if you lived close by or go somewhere else?
====

Subscribe for updates on tennis deals and promo codes. For major holiday and events, we will update you with any Indoor Tennis Parties near your zip code!

Sports Authority - Cash Cards $10 for 50, $25 for 100 (11/14-11/20)

For the latest Tennis Deals and Coupons, please visit our Facebook VIP Page

Demo Days in DC: Find the Right Tennis Racket

Choosing your first tennis racket can be tough! I understand that there is no such thing as a one size fits all...

So for beginners or people who want to try before they make a $100-$200 investment blindly, I'm going to schedule a few "Demo Days in DC" during Sept/October weekends (2-5pm).
Local DC readers can come and play test a variety of racket for yourself with our other play testers. Nobody, except you, can tell you if a racket is right when you play. By trying different ones out, we'll help you answer:


How heavy of a racket do I need? ( 9, 10, 11 oz)
What head size do I need? (Oversize, Mid-Plus, Mid)
What is the right balance? (Head Light, Balanced, Head Heavy)
What Brand should I buy? (Head, Prince, Wilson, Babolat)
What tension should I use for the strings? (50lbs to 60lbs)
What type of strings do I need to go with the racket? (Nylon, Multi, Polyester)

Try a few shots/serves/volleys and afterwards, you just tell me which one(s) felt the best to you and our tennis pros will email you 3-4 different recommendations of different price ranges in the same category as your favorite racket.

Tennis-Bargain Special:

Order your 2 or more rackets from us and we'll help get you a discount with one of our Tennis-Bargains recommended local shops, including the stringing cost.

Email us to get info on the next Demo Day in DC! 

Celebrate Nadal's Career Slam! Decima Nadal

To celebrate Nadal's career slam victory, Nike and Tennis-Bargains.com have teamed up to offer special wholesale prices on Nike shoes, clothes and other apparel.