Tennis lessons in Cancún: how to start and what to ask

Cancún is a good city to learn tennis: there are courts at clubs, in residential areas and at many hotels, and the weather lets you play all year if you pick the right hour. The hard part is not finding a court but finding the right lesson for your level, your age and your schedule.

This guide explains how to choose a tennis lesson in Cancún, what kinds there are and what to ask before you pay. The clubs we mention come from our records; we do not publish lesson prices or coach names because we have not verified them, so we tell you what to ask in order to compare.

Tennis clubs in Cancún with courts on record

Our records for Cancún and Costa Mujeres list 2 clubs with tennis courts; 1 of them lists an academy:

• Rafa Nadal Tennis Center Costa Mujeres: 8 tennis courts; lists an academy; published hours: every day 08:00–20:00.
• The Court: 3 tennis courts; no academy on record; ask whether they teach; published hours: Monday to Friday 07:00–23:30; Saturday and Sunday 07:00–22:00.

On top of that, the directory holds 9 named places with tennis courts in Cancún, among sports clubs, public sports centres and hotels. Our guide to tennis in Cancún lists them; at many of them coaches give lessons even when the place has no formal academy.

Private, semi-private or group lessons

A private lesson is one to one with the coach. You progress faster because the whole hour is yours, and it is the best choice if you have never played, if you are coming back after years away, or if you want to fix a specific stroke. It is also the most expensive per person.

A semi-private lesson is for two or three students of a similar level. It lowers the cost per person and still gives plenty of attention. It works very well for a couple or for friends who start together.

A group lesson or clinic brings more students together, usually sorted by level or age. It is the cheapest way to train regularly, and you meet people to play with afterwards. Academies usually offer groups for children, teenagers and adults at fixed times.

If you are starting from zero, a good mix is a few private lessons to learn the basic technique, then a group at your level.

What to ask before you sign up

To compare clubs and coaches, ask all of them the same things:

• The price per lesson and per package, and whether it includes the court or the court is paid separately.

• The real length of the lesson: 45, 60 or 90 minutes.

• How many students there are per coach in a group lesson.

• Whether they lend a racket and balls for the first lessons.

• What happens if it rains or you cancel: whether the lesson is made up and how much notice you must give.

• Whether there is a trial lesson before you buy a package.

• The coach's experience and which ages and levels they usually work with.

A good sign is a coach who asks about your goals and experience before the first lesson, and tells you how they will measure your progress.

The best time for a lesson in Cancún

The heat decides in Cancún. Most tennis courts are outdoors and hard-surfaced, which holds the heat. The most pleasant lessons are early in the morning, from 6 to 9, and after sunset on a court with lights. Midday is heavy even for fit players, especially from May to September.

In the rainy season, roughly June to October, afternoon storms can cancel a lesson. Ask the club about its rain rule and whether it makes up the session.

For the lesson, bring plenty of water, a cap, sunscreen, a spare shirt and tennis shoes, not running shoes: tennis shoes handle side-to-side movement better and protect the ankle.

Lessons for children and adult beginners

For children, look for a programme with softer balls and smaller courts for the youngest. That way they learn the right stroke without getting frustrated. Ask about the minimum age and how many children there are per coach.

If you are an adult starting from zero, do not worry about age: tennis can be learned at any age. Warm up well, start with short lessons and tell the coach about any injury. Our guide to tennis for adult beginners gives you a plan for the first months.

If you are on holiday

Many resorts in the Hotel Zone and Costa Mujeres have a court and sometimes a coach or clinics for guests. Ask at the front desk or the activities desk about the price, racket rental and whether they admit players who are not staying there. A lesson at your hotel is a good way to play if you are travelling alone.

After the lessons: playing matches

Lessons give you the technique, but your level rises by playing. On MeetAndPlay you can see open tennis matches in Cancún, join one or post your own with the club, the time and the level range. If you are also curious about padel, which has many clubs in Cancún, the padel level test tells you where to start.

To find out when matches open near you, turn on your city's WhatsApp alert at the end of this page.