Sweeping shot of the court's location.

The line from the movie Forrest Gump goes that "life is like a box of chocolates: you never know what you're going to get." The same holds true when it comes to private tennis courts. In the dream-like state, a private tennis court conjures up visions of smooth lines, expansive territory, comfortable resting spots, and a highly subdued environment.

Reality is something else. Private courts come in all shapes of sizes. Many are squeezed into the property, barely providing space to return serve. Then there are the private courts that are cluttered by trees, which in turn generate frustrating shadows and scatter dangerous leaves. Some appear to have last been resurfaced when VHS tapes ruled the world. In other cases, it’s a crapshoot if the net is the proper height, if random pets aren’t strolling all over the court, or if the ground beneath the court is solid. And let’s not talk about the quality of the lights.

But all those concerns vanish when you enter James Goldstein’s court. Located high up a canyon in Beverly Hills, this court is exceptionally open and spacious, including ample width on the sides and plenty of length behind the baseline. To the north, trees and leaves rise high, but are appropriately far enough away from the court, creating a feeling of tranquility. To the south, a four-foot clear glass fence offers a spectacular view of Los Angeles, spanning from the Pacific Ocean on the west, all the way across the vast scenic spectrum of office towers, apartment buildings, golf courses, homes, hills, and roads that comprise America's second-largest city.

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It certainly evokes tranquility.

It certainly evokes tranquility.

Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Naomi Osaka, Maria Sharapova, Tommy Haas, Reilly Opelka, Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul and Aryna Sabalenka are just a few tennis notables who’ve spent time on the court, in some cases for photo shoots, other times for practice sessions. Many from Hollywood play here too, a star-serving galaxy of agents, producers, directors, and more seeking to unwind. Also, since there are no tennis courts at hotels in Beverly Hills, visitors who stay at various properties can contact their concierge to arrange lessons on the Goldstein court.

Then there’s Club James, a large, long room underneath the court. Consider it the ultimate first-class airport lounge. Club James has hosted dozens of parties and events, in some cases strictly for Goldstein and his friends, in others by various organizations, ranging from the fashion and entertainment industries to charities and museums. The home itself, designed in 1963 by John Lautner, a protégé of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, was purchased by Goldstein in 1972. Its mix of minimalism and openness has also made it a popular spot for various film and TV shoots, including The Big Lebowski and \Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle. \ In 2016, Goldstein announced that the house would be donated to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art upon his death.

Style and sports define Goldstein’s life. You’re not likely to find many homeowners whose bookshelves are lined with multiple copies of both Vogue and The Sporting News Official NBA Register. Originally from Wisconsin, Goldstein is a longstanding real estate investor who is such a voracious basketball fan that in 2021, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced the opening of the James F. Goldstein SuperFan Gallery. When it comes to tennis, Goldstein in 2020 told “Behind The Racquet” that he’d been a ranked junior, played on the Stanford freshman team and has regularly attended the Indian Wells event for 30 years.

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Pull up a chair to enjoy the tennis—and the view.

Pull up a chair to enjoy the tennis—and the view.

Amid all this property’s unique attributes and the cross-cultural thousands that have entered it, don’t consider Goldstein’s home simply a community. Best instead to call it an environment. “It’s like a Hollywood set,” says the man who teaches on the court, Tony Graham. “It never gets old.” As a UCLA All-American and Top 100 pro, the perpetually gregarious and suntanned Graham knows his tennis well and is proud to serve as the tennis director of Club James. Graham’s high-water mark as a pro came in the summer of 1981 when, at an ATP event in Stowe, he beat John Alexander, Jimmy Arias and Johan Kriek—all top tenners at one point—before losing in the final.

Having taught tennis for more than 35 years—including two decades at the famed Playboy Mansion—Graham has played at 50 courts all over Beverly Hills. He ranks Goldstein’s as the finest. “It’s so tranquil,” he says, “just a beautiful, relaxing place for people to play tennis and enjoy themselves.” Peel off the wrapper, sink your teeth in and savor the chocolate. If you can’t melt away your troubles here, you can’t melt them away anywhere.