When Abha Jain joined The West Side Tennis Club five years ago, she had never picked up a tennis racket. Growing up in India, badminton was her sport. But she was in her 70s by the time she moved to Forest Hills and had no intention of learning a new game.
Today, she's at the club multiple times each week. While not necessarily on the courts, you’ll find her at bridge tables, in book club discussions, and over long lunches with friends.
For Abha, this tennis club in Queens has become a community hub where she's found her perfect place in retirement.
Her daughter's role as club president opened the door, but it was the people and programming that made her stay.
Finding Community Without the Court
Abha never felt pressure to play tennis. That realization came gradually, through interactions with longtime members who welcomed her into their circles.
"I never felt that because I don't play tennis, I don't belong here," she explains. "The friends that I have, they have been members for a long time. They made me very comfortable."
Her typical week centers around bridge games with members of the Forest Hills Women's Club, a 112-year-old organization with deep ties to the tennis club.
On Fridays, nine tables of women come together for bridge and canasta, eating lunch together before settling in to play. She also attends monthly book club meetings and occasionally helps the club's gardener with planting.
These activities fill her cup and bring purpose to her days. Enough that others notice.
"My colleagues say ‘I've never seen anyone so happy after retirement,’" she shares. "What is making me happy is this little community that I have joined. It has been a blessing for me."
An Oasis in the City
Living in one of the world's most crowded cities, Abha appreciates what The West Side Tennis Club offers beyond its programming.
"When you go in that area, it's like a suburban area," she describes. "It's very simple and the fresh air is wonderful."
She brings friends who aren't members to lunch at the club, and their reaction is always the disbelief that such a place exists in the city. The contrast between the bustling streets of Queens and the calm club grounds strikes every first-time visitor.
For Abha's granddaughter, the club has become a favorite spot. She looks forward to events like the Easter egg hunt, where she can run freely in a safe, enclosed space.
"It's hard to tell that it's really in a city," Abha notes about the renovated pool area and surrounding landscape. This physical environment matters as much as the social one. It provides space to breathe in a place where space itself is a luxury.
The Full Experience
Abha joined as a social member. She uses the pool area in summer when visiting with her daughter and granddaughter, attends membership events like the holiday party, and takes advantage of the dining options regularly.
"I love their lunch, their food is excellent," she says. "Sometimes I meet my friends and we go there to eat lunch or dinner. It's such a nice social place for me."
The staff has earned her appreciation through welcoming service. She's never encountered rudeness or felt excluded from any aspect of club life.
While she's aware of activities like yoga classes and the concert series, she gravitates toward what suits her interests. That freedom to participate selectively, without pressure to use every amenity, makes the membership feel flexible.
For someone who never envisioned herself at a tennis club, Abha has found her rhythm.
Worth Every Bit
When asked about the value of her membership, Abha doesn't hesitate. "It's worth it."
Her perspective comes from someone in her 70s who has decided to prioritize quality of life. She goes because she wants to be there, surrounded by educated, friendly people who share her interests.
"I am having a great time," she reflects. "I enjoy my retired life."
Abha emphasizes that The West Side Tennis Club offers activities just as important as tennis—pickleball, platform tennis, the pool, concerts, and various social programming.
"There are a lot of opportunities for people who don't play tennis," she explains. Some longtime New York residents, like Abha, found the club later in life and wish they'd known about it when raising their children.
For her, The West Side Tennis Club isn't really about tennis at all. It's about finding her place in a city that can feel isolating, especially in retirement. It's about weekly bridge games and monthly book discussions and lunches that stretch into afternoons.
It's about having somewhere to belong.
