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SoCal’s Most Complete Racquet Sports Store

Few sporting goods specialty stores have achieved the longevity and notoriety among the tennis community as The Racket Doctor, now in its 52nd anniversary year.

Under the Lee family’s ownership since 2019, the store has made many improvements, while maintaining its vintage feel. “Our focus is providing customers with while-you-wait stringing services,” say Jan and Ray Lee. “No other store in the area is doing this. We always offer our customers the latest products at everyday low prices. Our team knows tennis, and are available to help you select the right equipment to maximize your game. ”

Los Angeles Magazine has named The Racket Doctor “Best Tennis Shop in L.A.” Racquet magazine describes it as “a candy store for tennis players.”

Lee family: Ian, Jan, Ray, Susan & Nicholas

Randy Kramer, 1970s

Andre Agassi with Randy Kramer

Founded in 1970 by Randy Kramer, the business grew steadily to become the go-to tennis and racquet store for countless thousands of players from L.A. and beyond. They flocked to the store for its exclusive while-you-wait stringing services and great prices on a wide array of the latest racquets, clothing and accessories.

Kramer retired in 2019 and “passed the racquet” to Dr. Raymond Lee, a dentist whose practice is in La Cañada Flintridge, and his sister Susan Lee, a manager in the public sector. Dr. Lee’s wife Jan has joined the business, and Dr. Lee has three sons, Ryan, Ian and Nicholas. Everyone in this family-owned business plays tennis!

Dr. Lee and Susan grew up in the Los Feliz neighborhood. They both played tennis at Marshall High School and continued their education at USC. Dr. Lee graduated from the School of Dentistry, and Susan graduated with a degree in business administration.

As a high school and tournament player — and later the father of junior tennis players — Dr. Lee often dropped by The Racket Doctor for stringing and equipment. During his college years he worked for a tennis shop in Eagle Rock owned by the Hightower family. Little did he know that this knowledge and experience would prepare him in later life to partner with his sister Susan in owning their own tennis shop.

“That’s it!” — The Racket Doctor
Randy Kramer caught the tennis bug as a teenager in the 1960s. This led to his first job at the Griffith Park Tennis Shop, a long-standing favorite among L.A. players. He began stringing racquets from the trunk of his car and then rented a tiny room for $50 a month in the back of a retail store in Atwater Village.

Attending college during the day and stringing racquets at night, his dream was to open a full-service tennis store. One day, he spotted a van belonging to The Rug Doctor carpeting cleaner. “That’s it!” Randy thought. His store would be named The Racket Doctor.

Before long, Kramer’s stringing customers were asking for other tennis-related items — shoes, racquets, balls, and clothing. The rest is Southern California retail tennis history. When visiting the store today, look to the back-right corner. That’s where The Racket Doctor began!