Holy City Tennis Shop: Get Served

A favorite athletic activity in the Lowcountry, tennis has grown in popularity over the last two decades, especially since the former Family Circle Cup Tennis Tournament moved from Hilton Head Island to Daniel Island. Now, tennis enthusiasts throughout the region and the country flock to the Charleston area each year to watch North America’s largest women-only tennis tournament. Some speculate that the public’s increased exposure to the sport has ignited a deeper interest and appreciation for it, and, as a result, dozens of programs both for youngsters and adults have popped up East of the Cooper.

Naturally, with this influx of tennis programs has come an increase in the number of tennis shops opening in the area. Daniel DiNardo, a local business owner and avid tennis player, recognized Mount Pleasant’s need for quality tennis shops after the town’s Tour Tennis store closed in August 2017. A few months later, in November, he opened Mount Pleasant’s new sports store, Holy City Tennis Shop, on Houston Northcutt Boulevard.

DiNardo had always hoped he would someday get the chance to open his own establishment.

“I’ve played tennis since I was 7 years old, though baseball was my first love,” he said. “I played all the way through high school and gradually fell in love with it after my baseball career was over. But once Tour Tennis closed, I saw an opportunity to open my own shop, and that was something I always wanted to do if the opportunity presented itself.”

Holy City Tennis Shop, DiNardo’s latest business venture, offers a range of services for players of all skill levels. For those thinking about trying tennis for the first time, Holy City Tennis’ knowledgeable staff can walk you through the store for equipment you’ll need to get started and help you identify which items will best suit you. Seasoned tennis players will love the store’s extensive selection of racquets, apparel, strings and other accessories.

Additional services offered by Holy City Tennis include racquet customization, stringing and a demo service. If you’re unsure about which racquet you’d like to purchase, the store allows you to demo up to three racquets for three days for a fee of just a few dollars, which can be applied to your total price if you decide to purchase the item.

Though Holy City Tennis is still new to the area, the shop has a promising future with so many locals getting involved in the sport. DiNardo himself is still an active participant, playing on a USTA team out of the Mount Pleasant Recreation Center at least twice a week. Now he has been fortunate enough to have the chance to focus his professional life on tennis as well.

“Being involved with a sport I truly have a passion for makes it seem like a hobby itself, not a job,” said DiNardo. “I get to talk about tennis and share my love for the sport as well as help others with their tennis game every day.”

To learn more, visit www.holycitytennisshop.com or call 843-284-8977.

By Samantha Connors