A New Era of Racquet Sports at The Breakers Palm Beach: Inside the $12M Renovation

After nearly four decades at the helm of The Breakers' tennis operations, Ken Thompson has witnessed plenty of change. But nothing quite like the recent racquet sports transformation at this iconic Florida resort.

“We had ten clay tennis courts before the renovation,” said Thompson, Director of Tennis at The Breakers since 1986. “Now, we offer a total of 16 racquet courts with a diverse range of playing surfaces, including four hydroponic grass, six hydro clay and two cushioned hardtop tennis courts. We’ve also added two dedicated pickleball courts and two padel courts.”

Above: Ken Thompson, Director of Tennis at The Breakers. Photo credit: The Breakers.

The $12 million project, completed in late 2024, highlights a major shift in how luxury resorts are redefining racquet sports—not just in scale, but in scope. For The Breakers, the renovation is rooted in a clear philosophy: true luxury lies in offering thoughtfully elevated amenities and services that provide guests with a wide range of exceptional options, a principle that guided the entire project.

One of the most notable features is a set of four hydroponic grass courts that use CapillaryFlow technology. According to Thompson, these are the first, sub-irrigated grass tennis courts in the world. “They are watered entirely from underneath, minimizing runoff and using about 85% less water, which aligns with our conservation and sustainability model for the entire property," he explained. The center’s upgrade also includes six MOR Sports Group clay hydro courts, four of which are covered to provide additional comfort in the South Florida heat. “On a summer day like today, it’s roughly 20 degrees cooler under the shade,” Thompson said.

Above: The grass courts at The Breakers. Photo credit: The Breakers.

Two cushioned hard tennis courts were also added, each lined to accommodate convertible pickleball play. These complement the two newly constructed, dedicated, and covered pickleball courts within the complex.

The padel courts opened in May, shortly after the rest of the facility, but they are already generating a lot of interest. "While we didn’t capture the bulk of the season, we’re receiving tremendous response,” Thompson said. “Padel is the wave of the future. If you’re watching the financial or sporting channels, it’s opening everywhere — all up and down the East and West Coasts.”

Above: A look at the padel courts at The Breakers. Photo credit: The Breakers.

The Breakers’ racquet facilities are exclusively available for hotel guests and club members. As part of the services offered, the resort runs a daily tennis clinic at 9 a.m., but Thompson emphasized that programming continues to expand. “We’re adding so much more,” he said. “There’s 105 Night, Cardio Night, padel drop-in, pickleball drop-in, and associated programs.”

To foster community among members, the club hosts regular events. “We try to have a member event at least once a month,” he said. “Sometimes we’ll do an Olympic-style event where members have to play all three sports in a day.”

The tennis program employs 14 pros, including former Wimbledon champion John Lloyd. “We really cover the full spectrum — from juniors to seasoned players, and from amateurs to high-level competitors,” Thompson said. “While I may no longer specialize in working with young players or high-level power hitters, I have an incredible team who do. Whatever the need, we’re equipped to accommodate it and always encourage racquet enthusiasts to come out and enjoy one of these three exciting sports,” Thompson said. 

Above: The Breakers entrance. Photo credit: The Breakers.

Thompson also highlighted the strong talent emerging from Palm Beach Atlantic University. “The University has been a tremendous resource for our hiring and recruitment efforts - not just in tennis, but across the company,” he said. "Graduates are respectful, well-educated, disciplined, and bring great energy to the workplace. They’re truly outstanding individuals, and I genuinely enjoy working with them.”

From shaded playing options to introducing new racquet sports like padel, The Breakers’ renovation speaks to a broader shift in the luxury resort landscape — one where variety, comfort, and sustainability are now part of the baseline.

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Written by Florida Tennis Associate Editor Osvaldo Godoy. Photos courtesy of The Breakers.