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International Tennis Hall of Fame

Coordinates: 41°28′58″N 71°18′30″W / 41.4828°N 71.3082°W / 41.4828; -71.3082
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International Tennis Hall of Fame
Map
Established1880
1954 (Hall of fame and museum)
LocationNewport, Rhode Island
Coordinates41°28′58″N 71°18′30″W / 41.4828°N 71.3082°W / 41.4828; -71.3082
TypeProfessional sports hall of fame; museum; National Historic Landmark; tennis club; court tennis club; tennis tournament venue
AccreditationAmerican Alliance of Museums
FounderJames J. Van Alen
PresidentPatrick McEnroe
CEODan Faber
Public transit accessRIPTA
Websitetennisfame.com

The International Tennis Hall of Fame is located in Newport, Rhode Island, United States. It honors both players and other contributors to the sport of tennis. The complex, the former Newport Casino, includes a museum, 13 grass tennis courts, an indoor tennis facility with three courts, three outdoor hard courts, one green clay court, a court tennis facility, and a theatre. The International Tennis Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization with the goal of preserving, celebrating, and inspiring the sport of tennis around the world.

The location was the original home of the U.S. National Championships (now called the US Open), established in 1881. Since 1976, the complex has hosted the Hall of Fame Open, a combined men's and women's event, each year in July.

History

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The inner courtyard, horseshoe court, and clocktower of the Newport Casino, home to the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

The hall of fame and museum are located in the Newport Casino, which was commissioned in 1879 by James Gordon Bennett Jr. as part of an exclusive resort for wealthy Newport summer residents. It was designed by Charles McKim along with Stanford White, who did the interiors. It is an example of Victorian Shingle Style architecture.[1] In 1881, the Real Tennis Court (housing the National Tennis Club) and the Casino Theatre were constructed at the east end of the campus. The club was opened on July 1, 1880, after a six-month construction period and quickly became a fashionable venue for Newport summer residents.

The United States Lawn Tennis Association held its first championships at the Newport Casino in 1881. The event was held annually through 1914, by which time tennis had become the key attraction at the resort. The championship was suspended during World War I.

But by the 1950s, the retreat was struggling financially, as tourism preferences changed. It was at risk of being demolished for redevelopment of modern retail space, but the building was purchased and saved by Jimmy and Candy Van Alen, wealthy Newport summer residents. A sportsman himself, in 1954, Jimmy Van Alen established the National Tennis Hall of Fame and Museum in the Casino.[2][3] The combination of tennis matches and the museum allowed the building to be saved.

Van Alen intended the facility to be "a shrine to the ideals of the game", and was elected president of the hall in 1957.[3] The International Tennis Hall of Fame was officially sanctioned by the United States Tennis Association at its foundation in 1954. In 1975, with the induction of England's Fred Perry, the organization officially became the International Tennis Hall of Fame. It was recognized by the International Tennis Federation in 1986. The first Hall of Fame members were inducted in 1955; as of 2023, a total of 262 inductees from 27 countries have been recognized.[4]

In 2015, Martina Hingis was appointed as the first Global Ambassador for the International Tennis Hall of Fame.[5] In 2016, Guga Kuerten was appointed a Global Ambassador,[6] and in 2017 Michael Chang was appointed a Global Ambassador.[7]

The current Board of Governors includes former professional tennis players Kim Clijsters (Honorary President), Patrick McEnroe (President), Gigi Fernández, Katrina Adams, and Vijay Amritraj.[8]

Museum

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Hall of Fame entrance on Bellevue Ave.

The museum chronicles the history of the sport from the 12th century through the modern day. The museum's permanent collection contains approximately 30,000 objects, including modern and historic tennis equipment, fine art, decorative arts, artifacts from Hall of Famers and other significant figures within the sport, trophies, textiles and clothing, ephemera, and furnishings. The museum's Information Research Center (IRC) houses 5,000 books, 3,000+ audio-visual materials, 1 million plus photographic images, and a comprehensive collection of magazines, programs, periodicals, blueprints and archival materials. The collection is displayed year-round in the museum's 13,000 square feet (1,200 m2) of exhibit space.[9] The museum also offers several digital exhibits.[10]

2015 renovation

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The museum reopened in May 2015 following a nearly complete renovation of its exhibition spaces. The redesigned and reinterpreted galleries encompass more than 12,000 square feet of interactive exhibits, videos, and approximately 2,000 artifacts related to tennis' history and champions past and present. 

The museum was initially accredited by the American Alliance of Museums in 2013, and subsequently reaccredited in 2022.[11] The museum became a Smithsonian Affiliate in 2017.[12] The museum is also a partner of the Google Arts & Culture initiative.[13]

2025 renovation

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In May 2025, the museum unveiled a new look after an extensive $3 million renovation.[14] Old exhibits were updated, interactive exhibits were added, and a new "Hall of Famers Gallery" was introduced.[14] The HOF Gallery features a cast metal racquet representing each of the 270 Hall of Fame inductees.[14]

Awards

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For a description of each award and a list of its recipients, see footnote[15]

  • Chairman's Award
  • Davis Cup Award of Excellence
  • Eugene L. Scott Award
  • Fed Cup Award of Excellence
  • Golden Achievement Award
  • Joseph F. Cullman 3rd Award
  • Samuel Hardy Award
  • Tennis Educational Merit Award

Hall of Fame Open

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Main article: Hall of Fame Open

The Hall of Fame hosts several tournaments, including the Hall of Fame Open in July. The Hall of Fame Open is a part of the US Open Series, as well as being part of the men's ATP World Tour, the tournament is the only grass court event in North America. Top male players come to Newport directly from Wimbledon to compete for the Van Alen Cup at the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Past champions include Americans John Isner (4× Hall of Fame Open Champion) and Mardy Fish, two-time champion Fabrice Santoro of France, and Australia's Lleyton Hewitt. During the tournament, Tennis Hall of Famers are officially inducted in front of family, friends, fans, and fellow members of the Tennis Hall of Fame.

  • International Tennis Hall of Fame
    International Tennis Hall of Fame
  • International Tennis Hall of Fame
    International Tennis Hall of Fame
  • Front Lawn courts with indoor tennis club and outdoor hard courts in background.
    Front Lawn courts with indoor tennis club and outdoor hard courts in background.
  • International Tennis Hall of Fame (Fred Perry sculpture in foreground)
    International Tennis Hall of Fame (Fred Perry sculpture in foreground)

Members

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Main article: List of members of the International Tennis Hall of Fame
Hall of Famers Gallery

Being inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame is considered the ultimate honor in tennis. It represents the sum of one's achievements and contributions as being among the most important and transformative in tennis history.

There is a seven-step process to be inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame. A player or contributor must be nominated to be inducted, and then the national enshrinement committee reviews their eligibility. Once it is decided if they are eligible, the committee reviews if the nominee will be considered by voters. After review, the voting begins; both group and fan voting takes place. A nominee must receive at least 75% from the Official Voting Group result or a combined total of 75% or more from the Official Voting Group result and any bonus percentage points they earn through the Fan Vote. Votes are tallied by an independent accounting firm. The class induction is announced in January, and the new class is inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in July at the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

In addition to contributors, players are divided into three categories: Masters Players, Players, and Recent Players. Additionally, Wheelchair Tennis have their own subcategory in Players as well.

Global Ambassador

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Three players have been named "Global Ambassadors" for the Hall of Fame:

Name Nationality Year appointed Ref.
Hingis, Martina   Switzerland 2015 [16]
Kuerten, Gustavo  Brazil 2016 [17]
Chang, Michael  USA 2017

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Cheryl Hackett, Newport Shingle Style (Frances Lincoln, ltd., 2010) pg. 11
  2. ^ "General Information". International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Obituaries: James Van Alen, 88, Innovator Who Changed Scoring in Tennis". The New York Times. Associated Press. July 5, 1991. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
  4. ^ "International Tennis Hall of Fame". Eligibility Process for the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
  5. ^ Martina Hingis named Global Ambassador for the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Retrieved on September 11, 2015.
  6. ^ ""Guga Kuerten Named Global Ambassador for International Tennis Hall of Fame"". www.tennisfame.com. June 1, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  7. ^ ""Michael Chang Named Hall of Fame Global Ambassador"". www.tennisfame.com. October 5, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  8. ^ "Leadership". www.tennisfame.com. International Tennis Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  9. ^ "Permanent Collections". International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum. Archived from the original on November 8, 2011. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
  10. ^ "Digital Exhibits". International Tennis Hall of Fame. May 1, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  11. ^ ""ITHF Reaccreditated by the American Alliance of Museum"". www.tennisfame.com. December 7, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  12. ^ ""International Tennis Hall of Fame Earns Prestigious Smithsonian Institution Affiliation"". www.tennisfame.com. May 18, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  13. ^ "International Tennis Hall of Fame, Newport, United States". Google Arts & Culture. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  14. ^ a b c Dunning, Savana (May 16, 2025). "Ahead of big-name inductions, Newport's International Tennis Hall of Fame shows off huge makeover". Newport, Rhode Island: Newport Daily News. Archived from the original on May 17, 2025. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  15. ^ "Awards". International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
  16. ^ "Martina Hingis named Global Ambassador for the International Tennis Hall of Fame". International Tennis Hall of Fame.
  17. ^ "Kuerten named Global Ambassador for Hall of Fame". International Tennis Federation. Archived from the original on November 13, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
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