The 9 biggest stadiums in tennis: US Open’s Arthur Ashe No 1 – but there’s no room for Wimbledon’s Centre Court
The US Open is well and truly underway and, as always, action is largely centred around the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The arena is one of the most famous in tennis and happens to be the largest arena the sport has to offer – but how does it compare to other iconic arenas?
We go through the nine largest stadiums currently in use within the sport.
1) Arthur Ashe Stadium, New York – Capacity: 23,771
The US Open is one of the biggest tournaments in the world – so it makes sense that Flushing Meadows is home to the biggest court in tennis.
Built in 1997, the Arthur Ashe Stadium – named after the legendary three-time Grand Slam singles champion – can host a staggering 23,771 people at any one time.
That makes the stadium over 7,500 seats bigger than any other in tennis.
2) Stadium 1, Indian Wells – Capacity: 16,102
Outside of the four Grand Slams, Indian Wells is perhaps the biggest tournament players can win.
The tournament is the biggest in America outside the US Open and, as it turns out, has the second-largest tennis stadium in the world.
The main stadium on site, the aptly-named Stadium 1 can seat 16,102 fans.
3) Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam – Capacity: 15,818
Rotterdam Ahoy hosts a range of events throughout the year, and every February holds the Rotterdam Open – now an ATP 500 event.
World No 1 Jannik Sinner is the reigning champion, while Roger Federer, Stefan Edberg, and Arthur Ashe are among the famous champions from the past.
The arena is the third-biggest tennis stadium in the world, with a capacity crowd of 15,818.
4) Pala Alpitour, Turin – Capacity: 15,657
After an 11-year run in London, the ATP Finals switched locations to Turin in 2021 and is set to host the year-end championships until at least 2025.
The Pala Alpitour has proven a popular venue for players and fans since the Finals arrived in northern Italy, with incredible attendances across all three stagings of the event.
With 15,657 seats, the arena is currently the fourth-largest in the sport.
US Open News
US Open: The 9 biggest upsets in tournament history – ranked!
=5) Accor Arena, Paris – Capacity: 15,500
The largest tennis stadium in Paris has nothing to do with Roland Garros, with the Accor Arena greater in size than any French Open venue.
The Accor Arena has played host to the prestigious Paris Masters since 1986, an era that has seen the likes of Novak Djokovic, Pete Sampras, and Andre Agassi lift the title.
With 15,500 seats, it is the joint-fifth largest stadium in the sport.
=5) Perth Arena, Perth – Capacity: 15,500
Also with 15,500 seats, the Perth Arena joins the Accor Arena in fifth spot – making it the largest tennis stadium in Australia.
Built in 2012, the stadium was first used to host the Hopman Cup from 2013 to 2019, and then the ATP Cup from 2020 to 2022
Since 2023, it has been one of the main venues for the United Cup.
7) Court Philippe Chatrier, Paris – Capacity: 15,225
Court Philippe Chatrier may have been beaten to the title of Paris’ largest tennis stadium, but it still ranks highly in terms of the largest tennis stadiums.
Chatrier, named after the former president of the ITF, remains one of the most iconic arenas in tennis and was originally built in 1928.
Having played host to the Olympics as well as the French Open in 2024, it is a beloved sporting venue
with a capacity of 15,225.
=8) National Tennis Stadium, Beijing – Capacity: 15,000
One of the newest stadiums on this list, the National Tennis Stadium officially opened in 2007 and played host to tennis action at the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Since 2009 it has played host to the prestigious China Open, currently a combined WTA 1000 and ATP 500 event – won by world No 1’s Iga Swiatek and Sinner in 2023.
With a capacity of 15,000, it is the joint-eighth largest stadium in the sport.
=8) Central Court, Wuhan – Capacity: 15,000
Matching Beijing’s 15,000 capacity is another Chinese stadium, with Wuhan’s Central Court also one of the largest in sport.
The venue was built a decade and from 2014 to 2019 played host to the Wuhan Open, a tribute event to one of the city’s most famous daughters – tennis icon Li Na.
After a five-year absence, the event will return in 2024.
Where do other famous stadiums rank?
It perhaps comes as a surprise that only two of the four main Grand Slam stadiums miss out on the top nine.
Wimbledon’s Centre Court is in fact in tenth place, with a capacity of 14,979 – just 21 seats shy of the stadiums in Beijing and Wuhan.
Meanwhile, the Rod Laver Arena is in 11th position with 14,850 seats.
The second-biggest stadium at the US Open, Court Louis Armstrong is in 13th place with 14,000 seats, just behind the 14,500-seater Parque Roca Stadium in Buenos Aires.
Read Next: US Open Quiz – Can you answer 11 questions on iconic tournament?