The Aiken Tennis Club is a private court tennis club located at 146 Newberry Street, SW in Aiken, South Carolina. It includes the Court Tennis Building.[2][3] The club was incorporated in 1898 with the sponsorship of financier and founder of the prominent Whitney family, William C. Whitney.[4] The building was constructed around 1902 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 27, 1984.

Court Tennis Building
View of the court.
Aiken Tennis Club is located in South Carolina
Aiken Tennis Club
Aiken Tennis Club is located in the United States
Aiken Tennis Club
LocationNewberry and Park Sts., Aiken, South Carolina
Coordinates33°33′34″N 81°43′17″W / 33.55944°N 81.72139°W / 33.55944; -81.72139
Area0.4 acres (0.16 ha)
Built1902
MPSAiken Winter Colony TR
NRHP reference No.84000513[1]
Added to NRHPNovember 27, 1984

The Aiken Tennis Club is the world's most equatorial court tennis (also known as "real tennis") venue, and one of only two American courts south of the Mason-Dixon line (the other is the International Tennis Club of Washington).

Former world champions who have played on the court include Northrup R. Knox, G.H. "Pete" Bostwick, Jr., Jordan Toole, Jimmy Bostwick, Wayne Davies, Robert Fahey, and Camden Riviere. The most notable competition was the world championship challenger match between Ruaraidh Gunn and Camden Riviere on March 8, 2008.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ "Aiken Club Room and Court Tennis Building" (PDF). National Register of Historic Places - Nomination and Inventory. National Park Service. c. 1984. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  3. ^ "Court Tennis Building, Aiken County (Newberry & Park Sts., Aiken)". National Register Properties in South Carolina. South Carolina Department of Archives and History. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  4. ^ "The Royal & Ancient Game of Tennis" Archived 2006-02-14 at the Wayback Machine by Allison Danzig
  5. ^ Rick Preston, World Championship Eliminator Program, Aiken Tennis Club: 2008.