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A beginner's guide to playing tennis in Atlanta

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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.

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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.

Wings at The Painted Pickle
Wings at The Painted Pickle

Photograph courtesy of Painted Pickle

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

Buckhead apartment building evacuated due to dangerous carbon monoxide levels

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Buckhead apartment building evacuated due to dangerous carbon monoxide levels


A Buckhead apartment building was evacuated for a time late Tuesday night due to a carbon monoxide alarm. 

What we know:

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The incident occurred at an apartment complex in the 2900 block of Pharr Court South. 

According to Atlanta Fire Rescue, firefighters are investigating elevated carbon monoxide levels.

The entire building was evacuated as a precaution. 

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One person was evaluated at the scene for possible carbon monoxide exposure. 

Crews ventilated the building while they looked for the source.

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Firefighters say they were able to finally locate the source and contain it.

Once readings were back to a safe level, residents were allowed back inside the apartments.

What we don’t know:

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It remains unclear how many residents were displaced by the evacuation. 

The Source: The details in this article come from the Atlanta Fire Rescue.

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Atlanta, GA

2 arrested in deadly drive-by shooting of 7-year-old Atlanta girl, police say

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2 arrested in deadly drive-by shooting of 7-year-old Atlanta girl, police say


Two suspects in a shooting that left a 7-year-old Atlanta girl dead and her mother injured are now in custody nearly a week after the violence, police say.

The shooting happened around 9:45 p.m. on Feb. 24 at a home on the 2200 block of Tiger Flowers Drive NW.

Investigators believe the shooting stemmed from a dispute between one of the victim’s family members and the gunman over the phone. Thirty minutes after the argument, the suspect came back and fired shots into the home, police said.

Officers responding to the scene found a 44-year-old woman and her daughter, identified as 7-year-old Zoe Price, shot. Medics rushed the pair to a local hospital, but Price died from her injuries.

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Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said the department’s homicide unit secured an arrest warrant for 19-year-old Preston Smith two days after the shooting. Smith turned himself in to the Fulton County Jail on March 2.

Schierbaum said officers executed a search warrant on Feb. 27 at a home on McDaniel Street. On that day, 17-year-old Steven Richardson, who police described as an “accomplice,” turned himself in to authorities.

Both men are charged with murder, criminal attempt to commit murder, three counts of aggravated assault, second-degree criminal damage to property, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and four counts of third-degree cruelty to children. Richardson is also charged with possession of a Firearm by a Person Under 18.

At a press conference to announce the arrests, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens described Price as a bright and compassionate little girl who was “full of energy and full of joy.”

“Her life was cut short in an act of senseless violence, and that loss is not abstract. It is a chair that is going to be missing at the dinner table each night. It is an empty classroom seat next to her friends,” Dickens said.

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The mayor called the arrests “a step forward towards justice” for Price’s family and families across the city.

Dickens said that violence, like the act that took Price’s life, would not be tolerated in Atlanta.



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Atlanta, GA

Atlanta Braves News: Top 30 Prospects, Starting Pitching Depth, More

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Atlanta Braves News: Top 30 Prospects, Starting Pitching Depth, More


On Monday, the Braves were able to earn another Spring Training victory over the Detroit Tigers. It was a game where the starting pitching depth of the Braves was on full display, as Bryce Elder, Joey Wentz, and Owen Murphy all threw multiple innings. While it is likely unwise to expect big things from any of these three arms this season, they are a part of the “next man up” group for the Braves if injury again impacts the rotation. Each had a solid effort today, a trend that will hopefully continue.



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