Atlanta, GA

A beginner's guide to playing tennis in Atlanta

Published

2 weeks ago

April 16, 2025

A beginner's guide to playing tennis in Atlanta

Photograph by Getty Images

I’m not an athlete, but as I climb further into my 30s, I find myself caring more about physical fitness. The thing is, I need to have fun doing it. Run down a street just because? No. But tennis appeals to me. Chasing and hitting a ball is fun, plus there’s a social aspect. Last summer, I joined an ALTA league, unlocking a world of tennis I didn’t know existed in Atlanta. Starting a new sport can feel overwhelming, but fear not; I’m here to help you.

Get equipped
Admittedly, I was most excited about the gear when I started playing tennis. I like to play in colorful tennis skirts and dresses, which you can find at Atlanta’s own Your Serve Tennis, along with men’s apparel, shoes (for everyone), and rackets. Other locally owned stores include I Play Tennis in Ansley Mall and Hardcore Tennis Atlanta in Marietta. Choosing a racket can be as simple as ordering one off Amazon, but if you plan on doing this for the long haul, work with a pro who can guide you toward the right racket for your game. Most rackets don’t come with strings and need to be restrung when they get worn out, making shops like Hardcore particularly helpful.

Play with others
I like to play doubles, which allows you to share the joy (and pain) with someone else. You don’t need a built-in tennis buddy; you’ll find plenty of partners to play with in a league. ALTA offers men’s and women’s leagues in the spring and fall as well as mixed doubles in the winter for all skill levels and age groups throughout the city. ALTA has a “find a team” option to help players connect with established teams. Similarly, USTA has doubles leagues in the summer and winter. ALTA and USTA leagues follow a set schedule (members play on a specific day of the week depending on which league they join), but those seeking flexibility will find it with Ultimate Tennis (singles) and T2Tennis (doubles), which match players based on location, availability, and skill levels.

Brush up your skills
You don’t have to join a country club to take tennis lessons. Agape Tennis Academy offers adult and junior lessons and clinics at public courts throughout Atlanta, such as Bitsy Grant Tennis Center in West Midtown and DeKalb Tennis Center in North Decatur. Sandy Springs Tennis Center is also known for its well-staffed tennis program. Players can rent courts and find lessons at ITA Atlanta in Brookhaven.

Mix it up
It’s not all about playing; mingling is part of the fun too. Though not tennis, drink-eat-play pickleball venues make for fun spots to socialize while picking up a racket. The Painted Pickle in Armour Yards specializes in snacks and small plates, including charcuterie and Korean spiced wings, with the indoor pickleball courts rented hourly. In Buford, Pickle and Social boasts a mix of indoor and outdoor courts as well as shareable dishes.

This article appears in our April 2025 issue.

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Atlanta, GA

Childhood home of Atlanta’s first Black mayor renovated into affordable housing for Spelman staff

Published

14 hours ago

April 29, 2025

Press Room

Childhood home of Atlanta’s first Black mayor renovated into affordable housing for Spelman staff

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – The childhood home of Atlanta’s first Black mayor has been transformed into affordable housing.

A ribbon cutting was held at the Rev. Maynard Jackson’s home off Sunset Avenue in Vine City on Monday.

Rev. Jackson is the father of Maynard Jackson Jr., who became Atlanta’s first black mayor.

The home will serve as affordable housing for Spelman faculty and staff by offering a pathway to homeownership.

Spelman staff member Michele Ogden will be one of the first tenants.

“In my previous home, the rent jumped to $2,250 a month, which was completely unaffordable for me in my current field,” Ogden said. “I really have been dreaming of owning a home for forever.”

The home that was built by Rev. Maynard in 1949 sits across from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s family home.

The renovation was spearheaded by the Westside Future Fund, which bought the property from the King Center in 2020.

“Preserve the legacy, return it to service and to make it a place that is fit for the next generations of leaders,” said Westside Future Fund Board Chair T. Dallas Smith.

The ribbon cutting ceremony featured remarks from Mayor Andre Dickens, Atlanta City Council member Byron Amos and stakeholders who helped make the project come to life.

Members of the Jackson family were also in attendance.

“I know that Maynard would be so proud of this house being renovated and standing again to serve the community,” said Valerie Jackson, wife of former Mayor Jackson.

Valerie said the home served many purposes, not only as a family home and Rev. Jackson’s office, but was offered up as housing for university students and Black families during the 1950s and 60s.

“The man was ahead of his time. Rev. Jackson was ahead of his time — just like Maynard was ahead of his time,” Jackson said.

The home will house six to right Spelman faculty and staff members.

The Westside Future Fund is hoping the project will serve as a model for future faculty housing partnerships.

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Atlanta, GA

Person shot near Checkers in northwest Atlanta, police say

Published

1 day ago

April 28, 2025

Press Room

Person shot near Checkers in northwest Atlanta, police say

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – A person is being treated for injuries after being shot in northwest Atlanta overnight Monday.

According to police, officers responded to 2621 Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy. NW about a person being shot around 1:48 a.m.

Atlanta News First has reached out to the police department about the victim’s condition and if a suspect has been arrested and charged.

This is a developing story. Check back with Atlanta News First for updates.

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Atlanta, GA

2025 NFL Draft Grades: How the Atlanta Falcons fared

Published

2 days ago

April 27, 2025

Press Room

2025 NFL Draft Grades: How the Atlanta Falcons fared

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons made all of their selections in the 2025 NFL Draft, building a class that consists nearly entirely of defenders.

Defense has been a focus for the Falcons all offseason, and the draft represented the latest opportunity for improvement. Head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot expressed their excitement for Atlanta’s selections throughout the weekend.

The draft pundits were a bit more mixed on the Falcons’ haul, with most of their reservations linked to the 2026 first-round pick Atlanta gave up to move back into the first round to select James Pearce Jr. Fontenot discussed that move over the weekend, saying their belief in the player outweighed the value of a pick next year.

“Well, if you look at the trade from yesterday, basically what we did is we used our first round pick this year, right? When you really think about it, what we gave up for it is we went from the second round to the third round, if you really put it in a nutshell. …

“It’s about who the player is, and we’re not being irresponsible about it. We’re making decisions based on conviction and love for players and knowing the impact they’re going to make on this team.”

The first-round value Atlanta gave away in 2026 will be tied to the team’s performance this season. If the Falcons make the jump and achieve their goal of reaching the postseason, that first-round pick would be closer to the No. 26 pick they received in the trade and the value would therefore look more equal.

Interestingly enough, NFL data analyst Warren Sharp declared that Atlanta came away with the best value in the entire draft, despite the claims that the Falcons gave away too much to get the players they did. If that value translates to the field, Atlanta’s class will likely rise in estimation.

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