Grand Central Terminal, bustling with commuters and tourists, also hides a lesser-known gem—a tennis club. The Vanderbilt Tennis Club, located four floors above the train tracks, offers a full-sized court and two practice courts. Operating from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., its rates range from $100 to over $400 per hour based on the time of day. This scarcity of indoor tennis space in Manhattan means the club is fully booked through December.
Last Friday, the court saw players from all walks of life, from tourists to retirees, enjoying the unique facility. While tennis enthusiasts traveled to Queens for the U.S. Open, many stopped by the hidden court to perfect their skills.
Early in the morning at 7 a.m., while Grand Central remained calm, the first players hit the court. The historic Oyster Bar below remained closed, and early commuters were just arriving. On the fourth floor, Charlotte and Brian, colleagues who preferred to keep their full names private, played tennis. “It’s a quintessential New York experience,” Brian noted, as Charlotte prepared for her U.S. Open attendance.
The club hadn’t just attracted young professionals and tourists. By 10 a.m., the retired crowd gathered. Arthur Zabarkus, a long-time player of the court, recalled coming here for decades, using tennis as an excuse to avoid social dinners with a heavy-drinking friend. “Every invitation, I declined with the excuse of learning tennis,” Zabarkus shared.
Hidden within Grand Central Terminal lies a tennis court above the tracks—a secret thrill for players.
The court has a history dating back to the 1960s and has hosted notable players like Austria’s Lilli Tagger and baseball legend Hank Greenberg. It started as an art gallery, transitioned to CBS broadcast studios, and eventually became an athletic club floor with tennis courts. Donald Trump operated it from the 1980s until 2009, after which the Vanderbilt Club took over in 2011.
Dadi Zvulun now runs the club. Originally a jazz pianist from Jerusalem, Zvulun found this opportunity unexpectedly and now speaks fondly of the community at the club. “Every day here is special,” he noted, having shared memorable moments with tennis professionals and even witnessing a court proposal.
Tourists like those from Rose Gold Rally Trips, participating in group tours to Grand Slams, stopped by to experience the unique court. The group, led by co-founder Leeanne Seely, expressed delight in discovering tennis within Grand Central.
As the day progressed, the terminal filled with commuters and tennis fans alike. The evening saw the club bustling with activity, as young professionals like Penny took advantage of cheaper off-peak hours to enjoy the vintage New York court experience.
As the clock edged toward midnight and beyond, Grand Central’s activity waned, yet the cycle of trains, passengers, and tennis carried on, ready to start anew as Saturday dawned.
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