The Harrisonburg City Tennis Program and Virginia Professional Tennis have partnered with national sport groups to design and offer excellent tennis opportunities to our players. Our City Tennis Program has grown substantically in recent years. Since 2004, we have received:

• Tennis Industry Association (TIA) Top 50 National Program Award
• Named National Tennis Program of the Month by TIA for 1/2009
• Outreach recognition from city schools and area charity groups  
• Partnered with NRPA as a National Tennis in the Park Location
• Pilot program for USTA National Tennis Innovations Committee

John Raker is the Managing Member of VPT and is one of 30 Master Tennis Professionals among the 13,500 international membership of PTR (John was featured in the 07 October TENNIS Magazine cover story “42 Tips from the Nations Best Coaches”). John personally trains our City Tennis Staff, authors all program curriculums and makes personal appearances at various tennis clinics, lessons, and events at city court venues.

“Why Play Tennis?”

Tennis is Fun – Take a lesson from your childhood, when exercise meant meeting friends, playing, running, laughing, and hitting a rubber ball.

Tennis is the Sport of a Lifetime – the USTA Annual holds National Championships for players aged from 12 to 90 years old by gender and age division.

Tennis will make your body stronger – tennis builds “core strength” for use in other sports and has the capacity to burn 493 calories per hour (on average).

Tennis is a good social outlet and good for your career – There are fewer better or easier ways to meet new people or get to know someone than by trading forehands or matching strategic wits on the tennis court

Tennis play promotes a Healthy Heart – The Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, ranked #1 in America for heart care, calls tennis an ideal sport for a healthy heart.

“Why Not Learn to Play Tennis the Right Way?”

Let Certified Members of the Professional Tennis Registry and professionally trained instructors teach you and your child how to play tennis and effectively improve their game