Tournament
Guides
Sure, there’s always a bouncing yellow ball and the sound of a pre-recorded line judge yelling “out” – but what about all the nuances that make each tournament unique? How do you get the best out of each tournament?
Just like the ATP and WTA, we spend our travels ranking each tournament from favorite to least favorite. The criteria spans everything from environment, proximity to players, the city itself, etc.
At the end of the day, though, the judgement can be summarized in one test: “how does it feel to be a tennis fan here?” Below are the results.
Quick Links:
#1
MADRID Open
The tournament that does everything right. Who knew that the most enjoyable tournament on tour would earn that title by simply getting out of the way?
Madrid doesn't have the loudest reputation on the tour calendar. Some players skip it. Purists occasionally dismiss it as the "Miami of the clay swing" (an insult that needs to be investigated). And yet, within minutes of arriving at the Caja Mágica, it became obvious that this is what a tennis tournament is supposed to feel like.
Other events have their pros and cons — Madrid is drowning in its pros, with nary a con in sight. The grounds are well-designed, the city surrounding it is world-class, and the tennis sits exactly where it belongs: at the center of everything (physically and narratively). It's everything we loved about the Cincinnati Open with better weather, less Ohio, and more Spain.
Attended: 2026
#2
Cincinnati Open
It’s the people’s tournament. If you can stand the heat, it’ll change your life.
The Cincinnati Open may be based in the least enticing destination of all North American tennis tournaments (admit it, you'd sooner book a vacation to New York, Miami, or Palm Springs), but it offers a one-of-a-kind, transformative tennis experience. For any fan, it is a powerful reminder that at the heart of our stadiums, past the hustle and hype, are real people: world-class athletes hitting a fuzzy yellow ball with unmatched power and precision. In this case, often ten feet in front of you.
While it's still about the cocktails and the outfits, it's simultaneously about none of that at all. This is about pure tennis adoration, up close and personal.
Attended: 2025
#3
Miami Open
You can’t deny that it’s “the Parking Lot Open” (thanks, Jiří Lehečka, 2025) — but the Magic City brings the magic in different ways.
The Miami Open comes under a fair amount of deserved scrutiny for building a Masters 1000 event in what feels like the parking lot of a JCPenney. You'll find it at the bottom of most people's tournament lists. However, looking past the macro facility (it's one of the only top-level tournaments not held in a year-round tennis center) you'll discover a tournament with passionate fans, brand activations that rival the US Open, and an exciting dose of the aspirational "who's-who" watching that comes with Grand Slam tournaments. Just bring binoculars and an extra reserve of patience for center court.
Attended: 2023, 2025
#4
US Open
Pros: it’s the US Open. Cons: it’s the US Open.
The US Open is among the worst places I can think of in the world to watch tennis. The event is full of attendees who are dreadfully out of touch with (or just disinterested in) the sport. It's much more about leaving the grounds with a hat and posting on Instagram than watching the match. Increasingly, it's about posting on your Instagram story and insinuating that you might start to care about the sport, then losing interest three days later.
However, as I progress deeper into my tennis fandom, I'm getting off of my high horse and reconsidering. Is it cool to hate on the US Open? Do NFL fans hate on the Super Bowl? What if the biggest, most commercial event in our favorite sport just happens to be that: big and commercial? Is it such a crime?
Anyway, pop a beta blocker and make your way to Queens for a tennis experience to either 1) write home about or 2) post on Instagram about. Just skip the beta blocker (can you drink on those?) if you plan on any $23 Honey Deuces.
Attended: 2021, 2024, 2025, 2026
#5
Indian Wells
So-called “Tennis Paradise” has lost any right it once had to that distinction.
Indian Wells looks the part. Desert mountains, golden light, a stadium that glows at sunset. From a distance, it’s flawless. The glamour fades closer up.
Indian Wells is coasting on legacy from 10-15 years ago. What (I’m sure) used to feel like pinnacle of tennis experience now feels fragmented, paywalled, and insultingly disconnected from the sport itself.
It would be too simple to say Indian Wells has prioritized money and only caters to those with five figures to spend — what has happened is it has shifted its core consumer profile away from those who are interested in the sport. The result is one of the most dismal slots on the tour calendar for those who dare to be interested.
The title “Tennis Paradise” is up for grabs. Can Indian Wells reclaim it?
Attended: 2026