Regent Square Residents Spread Love of Tennis with Business

When Lynn Giroux started playing tennis, she immediately became addicted to the sport.

Little did she know, soon it would become the focus of her career.

“I enjoy playing tennis and I enjoy facilitating others enjoyment in playing tennis,” Giroux of Regent Square said. “That part is always good.”

Giroux is now the owner of Pittsburgh Indoor Tennis Club, formerly National Indoor Tennis, which is located just behind Paris 66 and Vanilla Pastry in East Liberty near Penn Circle. The  building has stood there for 35 years and has been through a few different reincarnations. Today, the business offers tennis experiences for everyone from the beginner to the advanced.

Right around the same time Giroux got into tennis around in 2003 and 2004, Top Spin Academy opened up in the building, which had been vacant at that time.

“I went to work for them at the front desk and their business collapsed, then I took over in 2005,” Giroux said.

There are no membership or guest fees and that is one thing that sets her club apart.

“You just call up to reserve a court,” she said. “We have private lessons, adult and junior clinics, casual play, leagues and USTA teams.”

Between leagues and regular users of the club, about 300 people come in to use the club each week.

David Bender of Regent Square started working at the club in 2006 after the Edgewood Tennis and Fitness Club was getting ready to close.

“Initially, six or seven years ago, I was getting myself going as a full-time tennis instructor,” Bender said. “The instructor part has always been my working life but I was really getting myself promoted and working here gave me the opportunity for more autonomy, helped me to be more independent and gave my clients a chance to take advantage of all of the opportunities here as well.”

Bender said the club has a lot to offer  for anyone in just about any stage of learning when it comes to tennis.

“It enables a lot of people to work the way they are comfortable,” he said. “I think we have a way of making players feel comfortable who may have just done a little bit and they want to take the next step.”

Everyone is welcome to join the fun.

“If they have some experience, the best place to start is the adult clinics,” Giroux said. “You can meet other people, get good instruction, get a great workout. You get to meet people at your ability level which makes finding hitting partners easier, and it’s a good stepping stone to finding out what other opportunities there are.”

For more information, visit http://pittsburghindoortennis.com/.