How to Get Back on a Wet Tennis Court
A 5-minute shower can interrupt a 90-minute match. Knowing how to recover a wet court fast -- and when to call it -- is the difference between losing a session and finishing the set.
Assess First
Look for: standing puddles (deal-breakers, surface-level wet), wet baseline (recoverable), damp throughout (recoverable). Walk to baseline -- if your shoes squeak/slide on a step, court is too wet to play. Resume only when the surface texture grips again.
The Squeegee Technique
Most clubs keep a court squeegee. Pull water in long strokes from baseline to net post (perpendicular to net), then to sideline. Push water toward the lowest drainage point. Don't squeegee against the texture -- work with the slope. 8-10 minutes for a typical hard court after rain.
Towel-Dry Hot Spots
Service boxes, baseline, and net edges hold water longer. Old beach towels work -- drag them flat across the court, ringing them out at the side. Avoid microfibre -- it sheds fibres on the court. Microfibre towels are for personal sweat use, not surface drying.
Wind & Sun Help
If the rain has stopped and there's a breeze, give the court 15 minutes after squeegeeing. Sun + breeze halves drying time vs squeegee alone. Most outdoor hard courts are playable 20 minutes after a 5-minute shower with squeegee + sun.
Surface-Specific Notes
Hard court: Recovers fastest. Squeegee, dry hot spots, resume in 15-20 min. Synthetic grass: Slower drying. Brush water out with squeegee then wait 30+ minutes. Clay: Don't squeegee -- pushes water into surface. Wait for nature, or have ground staff use a roller. Real grass: Most weather-sensitive. If lines are slippery, call it.
When to Call It Off
Stop play if: rain still falling, court has standing water, surface texture lost, your shoes slip on a single test step, more rain forecast within the hour. Falls on wet courts cause most casual injuries -- prioritise your knees over the set.
What About Resuming a Match?
In casual social play, agree to restart the current game. In comp, the rules vary -- Tennis Australia interrupted matches typically resume from where they stopped, with lights, ball quality, and weather all factored in by the umpire.
Gear for Wet-Day Recovery
Many players carry a small court squeegee, plus old towels in their bag during shoulder seasons. Cooling towels wring water well -- flexible doubling as recovery tool.
Related
Rainy Day Tennis Training | Court Surfaces Guide | Tennis in Wind.
Wet-court recovery kit
Court squeegees and microfibre towels for fast turnaround.