If golf has been important to the development of La Manga Club, tennis has also been an essential counterpoint. Right from the outset in 1971, there were plans to build several additional sports facilities apart from the golf courses, including a sizeable Tennis Centre. In 1973, the initial project was completed with 15 courts: eight hard, five clay and two grass courts, the first grass courts to be built in Spain.
Proof of the importance that tennis was given is that Wimbledon and US Open winner Manolo Santana was appointed as the Director of the Tennis Centre. The first resident pro was Antonio Solana, Spanish champion in 1972.
The 1980s were fundamental in the subsequent development of tennis at La Manga Club. Right from the beginning the tennis facilities had been growing, both in terms of infrastructure and the number of courts. In 1985 British Davis Cup doubles star David Lloyd was appointed Director of the Tennis Centre.
The same year, the Tennis Centre building, with Reception area, changing rooms, restaurant, bar and a small sports shop, was opened. By 1987, a gym, sauna and several additional facilities were added.
During the last 20 years, the Tennis Centre has played host to numerous important national and international tournaments, which brought some of the world's leading players to La Manga Club: from Sergi Bruguera, Carlos Moyá and Juan Carlos Ferrero to the unbeatable Arantxa Sánchez Vicario and Martina Hingis in the women's game.
- Women's Spanish Open in 1990
- Davis Cup match between Spain and Canada in 1991
- Fed Cup qualifying rounds from 1995 to 2001 (except 1997)
- ATP tournaments in 1992, 1994-2000
- Spanish Seniors in 1993, 1997, 1998, 2001
- Austria Cup in 1993
- World Veterans in 1999
Today, there are a total of 28 courts. Further evidence of the calibre of tennis facilities at La Manga Club is provided by the fact that La Manga Club Tennis Centre has been appointed by Britain's Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) as the official winter training base for its elite competition squads.
