Waldorf Astoria New York will install a full-size tennis court inside its restored Grand Ballroom for a one-night invitational on August 27, 2026.
The Ballroom Tennis Invitational will debut Waldorf Astoria Racquet Club, a new global programme linking luxury hospitality with tennis, padel and racquet culture. The ticketed event is set for 6 p.m. through 10 p.m., with prices starting at $1,500 per person.
ATP and WTA players Tommy Paul, Ben Shelton, Leylah Fernandez and Maria Sakkari are slated to take part in a set of singles showcase matches, each lasting 45 minutes. Paul represents the United States Davis Cup team, while Fernandez and Sakkari have played for Canada and Greece respectively in the Billie Jean King Cup.
“For one night, we are doing something it has never seen before: bringing world-class tennis beneath the chandeliers,” Luigi Romaniello, managing director of Waldorf Astoria New York, said in Hilton’s announcement.
Tennis beneath the Grand Ballroom chandeliers
Located at 301 Park Avenue in Manhattan, Waldorf Astoria New York reopened after an extensive restoration that included its three-storey Grand Ballroom. The room can accommodate 1,500 people and retains its chandeliers and curtained balconies, alongside updated lighting, sound and staging infrastructure.
Its dance floor will become the court for what the hotel describes as the ballroom’s first live tennis event. The event will bring professional match play to a room associated with formal dinners, galas and awards ceremonies.
The Grand Ballroom has previously hosted the first Tony Awards, early Met Galas and a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Its restoration formed part of a wider renewal of nearly 43,000 square feet of event space across 14 private rooms.
What the $1,500 ticket includes
The Tennis Under the Chandeliers general-access experience combines the showcase matches with an evening culinary reception. Guests will have access to interactive chef stations, premium seafood, Champagne from Moët & Chandon and tennis-themed drinks, as well as player meet-and-greet opportunities.
Lex Yard, the hotel’s signature restaurant led by four-time James Beard Award winner Chef Michael Anthony, will take part in the food programme. Its limited-time Lobster Club combines lobster with crispy bacon, Little Gem lettuce, heirloom tomatoes and a classic club-sandwich structure.
The drinks menu will draw on the former Waldorf Bar’s tradition of “appointment cocktailing”. For the event, the hotel is reviving its original Racquet Club cocktail, which will remain available at Lex Yard until September 13.
The Guerlain Wellness Spa, located within the hotel, will also offer an Art of Longevity assessment shaped around each guest’s individual wellness goals. Exclusive event merchandise will be available to buy during the evening.
Overnight stays and private tennis clinics
Waldorf Astoria New York has created several Ballroom Tennis packages for guests who want to turn the invitational into an overnight stay.
The Perfect Match package includes one night at the hotel, two event tickets, breakfast at Lex Yard and a curated welcome amenity. Guests also receive access to the evening’s matches and culinary programme.
The Stay, Spectate & Play package includes a two-night suite stay and two invitational tickets. It also provides a private one-hour clinic on the Grand Ballroom court with a touring ATP or WTA player, a Guerlain Wellness Spa treatment and commemorative amenities.
Event ticket holders can separately book the Champions’ Grand Ballroom Tennis Clinic for August 28. The limited-capacity add-on includes on-court play for two guests, guidance from a leading professional, light refreshments and a commemorative photograph.
Waldorf Astoria Racquet Club goes global
The New York event launches Waldorf Astoria Racquet Club, which Hilton plans to develop across different destinations and seasons. The platform will build on tennis and padel facilities already operating within the Waldorf Astoria portfolio while introducing events linked to major sporting and social occasions.
“Racquet culture has become one of the most compelling expressions of modern luxury, where sport, style, travel and social life all move in the same orbit,” Jamie Kerr, vice president of Luxury Marketing Strategy at Hilton, said in the announcement.
Five per cent of net sales proceeds from the Ballroom Tennis Invitational will go to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. The Hilton Global Foundation will match the contribution, supporting the organisation’s work in mentorship, hospitality career exploration and trips for young people and their families.
