If the U.S. Open has you itching to crack into a can of tennis balls, you’re not alone. Since 2000, the number of recreational tennis players nationwide has nearly doubled. Here, four spots to serve it up, Mile High-style.

  • City Park
    23rd Avenue and York Street
    Pro Hundreds of league players and more than a few Colorado hall-of-famers call this complex home, so pride and community are rich on the 14 lit courts.
    Con The bathroom facilities need an update, but expect renovations before City Park hosts the 2012 National Public Parks Tennis Championships.
  • Washington Park
    East Louisiana Avenue and South Downing Street
    Pro A see-and-be-seen locale with seven lit courts, a hitting wall, and plenty of league programs through the Wash Park Tennis Club.
    Con These courts are perpetually crowded even late into the evening.
  • The Sports Complex at Lowry
    3000 Sports Boulevard
    Pro These four brand-new, lit courts are almost always empty.
    Con Not much of a community feel (yet).
  • Montclair Park
    East 12th Avenue and Oneida Street
    Pro Surrounded by a lush, ivy-covered fence, this historic and charming fossil (built in the 1890s) is the oldest court in Denver.
    Con No services or facilities. Plus, the bumpy, lone court has seen better days. Like, say, the early 1900s.