Tennis-Club 1899 e.V. Blau-Weiss Berlin

One of Germany’s Leading Tennis and Hockey Clubs, now in its 126th Year

Author

Rich Neher
April 29, 2025

When you turn into the club driveway from Waldmeisterstraße in Berlin, and see the clubhouse under tall trees and the red clay courts everywhere, you begin to realize the importance of that club in Germany, and upon reading the short chronicle, it becomes apparent how much Blau-Weiss shaped the history of tennis in that country.

“One of the leading tennis and hockey clubs in Germany is located in the heart of Berlin's Grunewald and in the immediate vicinity of the Kurfürstendamm. For over 120 years, the Tennis-Club 1899 eV Blau-Weiss has seen itself as a sporting club that places great emphasis on family sports, including youth development, and a sociable club life for all age groups.

The club's facilities, which include a total of 29 tennis courts, a hockey court, and a complementary range of swimming and fitness facilities, are always maintained to the highest standards. This is one of the reasons why Tennis-Club 1899 eV Blau-Weiss is one of Germany's Leading Tennis Clubs.”

Below left: Last year’s 125th Anniversary Book. Over 200 pages of club history with special emphasis on the years since 2000.

Below right: (From the chronicles) In 1929, at an exhibition match between the German veteran, Otto Froitzheim, and the then world-class French player, René Lacoste, over 6,000 spectators crowded into the stands to witness the sensational event.

Tennis-Club e.V. Blau-Weiss Berlin has around 4,000 members (3,000 tennis and 1,000 hockey members) and a waitlist of currently about 2 ½ years.

The aerial photo (Google Earth) shows 19 courts in the top section, which includes Stadium Courts 1 and 2. At the time of my visit, the 5 clay courts to the left of Stadium Court 1 were covered with a bubble for winter indoor use.

The swimming pool and fitness center are located next to Stadium Court 1. The top section also includes the clubhouse and a restaurant/banquet facility (“Gastronomy Hagn”).

The lower section has the permanent indoor area with 5 carpet courts, another 5 clay courts, and the hockey fields.

The hockey area has its own restaurant, the “Hagn’s Hockey Lounge.”

Lots of good photos on the website: https://www.tc1899.de/unsere-anlage/

Karsten Weigelt is Performance and Bundesliga Coach at Blau-Weiss. As International Tester and Workshop Leader, he is also a familiar face in the PTR world. In fact, he was a participant at the PTR International Racquets Conference in Florida a few months ago. I found Karsten to be one of the nicest German tennis guys I have ever met and appreciated his hospitality.

This is Stadium Court 1, which held 6,000 spectators in that 1929 match between Otto Froitzheim and René Lacoste.

Winter Indoor Bubble over 5 clay courts.

Permanent Indoor facility with 5 carpeted courts.

Karsten Weigelt in front of the club’s two brand new Padel courts.

ababab

Blau-Weiss Hockey fields

Blau-Weiss is represented with 91 women's and men's teams across all leagues - the first women's tennis team and the women's and men's hockey teams even at Bundesliga level.

Blau-Weiss Hockey Ladies, 1930 (from the club’s 125-Year Anniversary Book)

The short chronicle ends, “The past 120 years have been a turbulent, often stressful time. Members and employees from several generations have nevertheless managed to work together to build and maintain a sports institution that, then as now, exudes a special appeal with its diverse opportunities for young and old. We are proud of this, especially of the repeated confirmation that Blau-Weiss occupies one of the top positions among the most beautiful tennis and hockey clubs in the world.

In the next stage of transformation, we intend to further modernize our facility and develop new, innovative offerings to maintain our high standards in the future.

We are ready for this and look forward to what lies ahead: a future that preserves our traditions and maintains our club as a vibrant center of innovation, modernity, and sustainability.”

I am adding: As vibrant and modern as the city of Berlin is today. I was thoroughly impressed by Blau-Weiss, Karsten, and everyone else I met at the club.