Photo by Navneeth Nalajala | The Triangle
If you have been an avid Triangle reader for some time, you may know that last year the sport of the summer was pickleball. This year, things have changed and courts have gotten bigger. The summer of 2026 is now the summer of tennis.
Whether you spent your childhood perfecting your backhand or simply are looking for a new sport to gravitate towards, this summer is the perfect time to pick up a racquet along with a new hobby.
Tennis is perhaps the ideal sport to dive into during adulthood. If you want to fill the void that sports of your youth have left you with, look no further than tennis. The rules are simple, the equipment is minimal, and you only need to find one other tennis-curious friend to get a good match going.
Even if you have never played tennis before, it is not difficult to learn. As long as you can make contact with the tennis ball and have it go somewhat in the direction that you want, you are almost guaranteed a good time. One of the great parts about tennis is that the game can be played at any skill level, and is always going to be a fun and, hopefully, competitive time. There are always aspects of your game that you can improve upon as you play, from learning to serve to hitting a slice, and as you improve various elements of your game you will find your enjoyment growing along with it.
Playing tennis on campus is easy, as racquets and balls are freely available to rent from the DAC’s equipment closet. Of course, there are the two tennis courts by 7/11, known as the Buckley Courts. Just be careful that no pickleballers are there taking up the courts. If those courts are full, there are the tennis courts at Vidas Athletic Complex, which is accessible via the Drexel Shuttle, or a 20 minute walk down Powelton Ave. If you are looking for a slightly closer walk, there are the courts on Penn’s campus. Although you do not technically have to reserve them, you may have to leave if someone else decides tennis is also their sport of the summer.
Outside of Drexel, tennis courts are widely available throughout Philadelphia, making it a sport that you can pick up while a college student and keep with you throughout your future as well. Unlike other sports that scream “retirement” *cough cough golf cough cough*, tennis is a good way to be active and social, and can be picked up again at any period in your life. It is a game where you could fine-tune your skills through practicing daily, or play once every year and still be decent.
So, whether you are on campus or off campus this summer, make sure you try picking up a racquet at some point. And, maybe, you will find tennis to be your sport of the summer.
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