The Valley’s Tennis Paradise

(This article was written by Roel Rodriguez and was featured in the December 2025 issue of Explore Harlingen Magazine.)

Indian Wells: Tennis Paradise

When professional tennis fans hear the term, “Tennis Paradise,” they often think of the Indian Wells tennis center located in Palm Springs, California. It’s home to the BNP Paribas Open, which hosts the most elite men’s and women’s professional tennis players on the ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 tour. Top players like Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka, and Coco Gauff convene at Indian Wells each March to compete in this highly lucrative and premier tennis tournament.

My brothers and I attended the BNP Paribas Open last year and we quickly understood why Indian Wells is called Tennis Paradise. The tennis matches are of high caliber, and spectators receive every conceivable amenity. Palm Springs, California is a desert oasis with beautiful landscapes, great weather, and no shortage of celebrities. We saw Bill Gates, Zendaya, and Will Ferrell at the Carlos Alcaraz match. As a first-timer, it was truly a remarkable experience and one that I will cherish forever.

Harlingen’s USTA Pro Circuit Event

I was also a first-timer at the 2025 Men’s $30,000 ITF World Tennis tournament, held at the Harlingen Country Club (HCC), this October. It is a USTA Pro Circuit Event, which is the best way for tennis players to qualify for higher-level events. This professional men’s tennis tournament has been held in our community for more than 20 years with the help of host HCC tennis pro/director, Andy Carter.

The 2025 Men’s ITF World Tennis tournament began on October 25 and ended on November 2 – a full week of up close and personal action with access to more than 60 U.S. and international players who all have the potential to be the next generation of ATP men’s professional tennis. The HCC tennis tournament highlights notable Harlingen competitors who have gone on to succeed in professional tennis.

Photo courtesy of Roel Rodriguez

Harlingen Hospitality

One unique feature of the tournament is that the players stay with “host” families from our community. Host families open their homes and hearts to these young professionals and provide them with all the support (lodging, food, etc.) that they need while playing at HCC for the week. The new singles champion, Alex Martinez from Spain, mentioned during his post-victory speech how much he had appreciated his host family and everything that they did for him throughout the week. He said his stay felt like being “at home,” allowing him to focus on his play and ultimately win the tournament.

Affordable Admission for All

Admission to the week-long tournament is free to watch all the qualifying and main draw singles and doubles matches. The only exception are the semifinal and final matches, which cost $5 to attend with “first come first serve” seating in general admission. This seating is equivalent to courtside seats at any major tennis tournament but with a better view. You are literally on top of the action with seating only a few yards away from the court, which is a dream for tennis fans and amateurs looking to improve their own skills.

Photo courtesy of Roel Rodriguez

VIP seats for tournament sponsors, HCC supporters, and their guests are also available. All sponsorship funds are used for player prize money, tournament costs for officials, and charity. This year’s chosen charity was the Sunny Glen Children’s Home. The tournament organizers also provided food and drinks free of charge for all spectators/volunteers for most of the week. Tournament shirts were only $10. Compared to Indian Wells, the prices are an absolute bargain. 

RGV’s Tennis Paradise

So, is this the Rio Grande Valley’s (RGV’s) Tennis Paradise? Yes, it sure is! First and foremost, it is the only professional USTA tennis tournament in the entire RGV.

Secondly, the HCC is a great venue. They have plenty of free parking with quick access to the immaculate tennis courts. The volunteers, staff, and members are courteous, friendly, and accommodating to all spectators, especially children. For those who love tennis but don’t want to spend a lot of money to watch quality professional tennis, this is the place to be.

The weather was amazing throughout the three days that I attended the tournament. It was in the mid-70s all week. This may have just been good timing but, nonetheless, HCC was prepared and provided covered seating to protect spectators from the sun.

Student Athlete Outreach

HCC and Andy Carter opened the tournament to all tennis programs in our community. Tennis players from Harlingen South, Harlingen High, San Benito High, Raymondville High, and Memorial Middle School in Harlingen attended for free. The students all had the opportunity to experience front-row action and talk with the professional tennis players.

Photo courtesy of Memorial Middle School

The humble players signed autographs and took pictures with fans. Many wore their college/university attire. Spectators were able to talk with the players about their college tennis experience. Our local high school and middle school players were surely inspired to witness firsthand that the game of tennis can lead to educational opportunities.

Must-See Event Each October

I have never experienced this level of professional tennis match proximity. I can’t believe it took me this long to attend this fantastic tournament. It is a must-see event in our beautiful city and on my “to do” list every year from now on.

A big thank you to all the generous sponsors who allow HCC to make this tournament an affordable family and fan experience. Great job by Andy Carter, his team, the volunteers, and HCC tennis members who work tirelessly to host this quality event each year.

Tennis Paradise does exist in Harlingen, and it happens every year in October at the Harlingen Country Club. Join me in paradise in 2026!