Eager to establish a tennis club in Ferrara, a group of local sports enthusiasts gathered on the evening of 18 October 1929 to identify a suitable location for their activities. Soon, the Municipality of Ferrara granted the possibility of using the vegetable gardens behind the Marfisa d’Este building. Four tennis courts were then created with an entrance from Corso Giovecca, designed by engineer Carlo Savonuzzi (1897-1973). The club's activities commenced on 1 March 1930, with the approval of its statutes. The Tennis Club Marfisa d'Este quickly became the reference institution for the bourgeoisie of Ferrara, reaching a membership of two hundred, all actively contributing to making the place as beautiful and enjoyable as possible. Nobile Giancarlo Felisi, one of the many presidents who took turns leading the club, is credited with creating the giant cup where each year the social champions were inscribed on a plaque. The club had many notable members, including the filmmaker Michelangelo Antonioni (1912-2007), considered one of the best players, the writer Giorgio Bassani (1916-2000), whose passion for tennis is evident and influences his novels, and the art historian Roberto Longhi (1890-1970).