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PRESERVE. CELEBRATE. INSPIRE.

OUR MISSION

The International Tennis Hall of Fame preserves and promotes the history of tennis and celebrates its champions, thereby serving as a vital partner in the growth of tennis globally.

THE ULTIMATE HONOR IN TENNIS

In 1954, the late tennis innovator Jimmy Van Alen founded the Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island as a “shrine to the ideals of the game.” Today, it is recognized as the official Hall of Fame for the sport of tennis globally. Each year, select individuals are recognized with the ultimate honor in tennis — induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Since 1955, 262 distinguished inductees representing 27 different countries have been enshrined in Newport.

A WORLD-CLASS TENNIS MUSEUM

The Hall of Fame is home to an extensive museum that showcases the rich history of tennis as told through the remarkable lives and careers of the Hall of Famers. Engaging exhibits feature an impressive collection of artifacts from tennis’ greatest moments and most inspiring champions, and a vast array of art, fashion, photos, and videos. Highlights include a hologram of Roger Federer speaking about why he loves tennis, a 5-foot tennis trivia touch table, and an audio tour narrated by Maria Sharapova, specifically designed to make it fun for kids!

The ITHF is constantly working to digitize its museum collection, with the purpose of sharing tennis history and Hall of Famers’ stories globally. We are in the midst of an extensive digitization project to take the museum collection and its great stories beyond Newport’s walls. 

Museum admission is included free with your tournament ticket – don’t miss out!

PLAY TENNIS

The seven-acre property is an active tennis facility year-round. The Hall of Fame Tennis Club features 13 grass tennis courts, 6 hard courts (3 indoor, 3 indoor/outdoor), 1 clay court, and a rare Court Tennis, or “Real Tennis” facility. All of the courts are utilized regularly by club members and are open to the public, except during tournament week.

BE PART OF THE MISSION

The International Tennis Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization.

More than just a tennis tournament, the Infosys Hall of Fame Open is an impactful fundraising source to support the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s mission. Our ability to develop engaging, impactful programs to preserve and promote the history of tennis and inspire its future is dependent upon committed sponsors, successful programming and events like the tournament, and generous donors like you.

Just after Wimbledon each year, top ATP World Tour pros head to Newport to compete in the Infosys Hall of Fame Open, the first stop of the summer swing for pro tennis in the United States. Contested on the historic grass tennis courts of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, which have hosted legends of the sport since 1880, the tournament is the only event played on grass courts outside of Europe, and it offers the only opportunity to see professional men's tennis in the northeast prior to the US Open.

 

TOURNAMENT HISTORY

Newport Casino Tournament Image Circa 1915

THE NEWPORT CASINO

The International Tennis Hall of Fame and its historic grass courts are located in the Newport Casino, a National Historic Landmark property. The stunning 7-acre property was constructed in 1880. Commissioned by New York Herald publisher James Gordon Bennett, the grand venue initially served as a social club for the elite summer residents of Newport. Three days after it opened in July 1880, the Newport News boasted, “It is doubtful if a livelier place can be found.”

The name of the property is not indicative of gambling. “Casino” is derived from the Italian word, la casina or “little house.” The Newport Casino was designed by the architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White and is one of the finest examples of American Shingle Style Architecture.

In recognition of its social, sporting, and architectural significance in American history, the Newport Casino was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987.

East Porch resized_V2

TENNIS IN NEWPORT – AND IN AMERICA!

The history of tennis in Newport is synonymous with tennis in America. On August 31, 1881, the first U.S. National Lawn Tennis Championship was contested at the Newport Casino, among a field consisting of 25 participants, and accompanied by a string quartet. Bostonian Dick Sears emerged as the country’s first champion, going on to win the first seven championships (1881-1887) before retiring undefeated.

By 1914, the event had outgrown Newport, and relocated to New York City. Today, it is known as the US Open. The perpetual US Open trophies are displayed in the museum in Newport—be sure to take a peek when you’re at the tournament.

Newport has witnessed each new generation of tennis stars from 1881 to the present. After the U.S. Nationals relocated to New York, the world’s foremost players continued to play in Newport through various significant events.

From 1915 to 1967, the Casino Invitational hosted the world’s premier players. The list of tennis stars that played and won at Newport reads like a who’s who in tennis- “Big” Bill Tilden, “Little” Bill Johnston, Ellsworth Vines, Frank Shields, Wilmer Allison, Don Budge, Bobby Riggs, Don McNeil, Gardner Mulloy, Ted Schroeder, Bill Talbert, Pancho Gonzales, Frank Sedgman, Tony Trabert, Ken Rosewall, Mal Anderson, Rod Laver, Chuck McKinley, Roy Emerson, and Dennis Ralston.

The VASSS Pro Tennis Championships lasted from 1965 to 1970 and in 1971, professional women’s tennis finally came to Newport with the Professional Women’s Singles and the Professional Women Doubles from 1971-74. Standing room only crowds watched Kerry Melville, Margaret Court, Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, and Françoise Dürr play exceptional tennis. The Virginia Slims of Newport returned from 1983-1990, and from 1991-1998 it was known as the Virginia Slims of Newport Invitation.

In 1976, the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships, a stop on the ATP World Tour, debuted attracting many of the young talents on the men's tour. The tournament continues today, as the Infosys Hall of Fame Open.

History of the Hall of Fame Open

TIMELINE OF NOTABLE TENNIS EVENTS IN NEWPORT

1881-1914

U.S. National Lawn Tennis Championships

1915-1967

Newport Casino Invitational

1921

Davis Cup Host

1965-1970

VASSS Pro Tennis Championships

1971-1974
Virginia Slims of Newport (Women’s tournament)

1976-1984

Miller Lite Hall of Fame Tennis Championships (ATP)

1983-1998

Virginia Slims of Newport (Women’s tournament)

1985-1990

Volvo Hall of Fame Tennis Championships (ATP)

1991

Davis Cup Host, USA def. Spain 4-1

1991-2003

Miller Lite Hall of Fame Tennis Championships (ATP)

2004-2012

Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships (ATP)

2013-2016

Hall of Fame Tennis Championships (ATP)

2017-18

Dell Technologies Hall of Fame Open (ATP)

2019 - 2021

Hall of Fame Open (ATP)

2021

Davis Cup Host | Korea, Rep. def. New Zealand 3-1

2022

Infosys Hall of Fame Open (ATP)

THE VAN ALEN CUP

Van Alen Cup

Each summer some of the world’s best tennis players meet on the grass courts of Newport to vie for the Van Alen Cup. The silver Tiffany’s trophy, which is displayed in the museum year-round, is aptly named for Hall of Fame founder Jimmy Van Alen.

In the 1950s, when Jimmy was the President of the Newport Casino, he and his wife, Candy, visited the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, and decided that tennis needed a place to honor its champions. As the inaugural home to the U.S. National Championships from 1881-1914, the Casino seemed the natural site. Van Alen lobbied the leadership of the United States Lawn Tennis Association (now the USTA) to sanction the establishment of a National Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, and so it came to be. It stands today as a true and fitting monument to the sport of tennis worldwide.

A national champion in court tennis, Van Alen was a progressive thinker among tennis leaders. On the grass courts of the Newport Casino he introduced VASSS, the Van Alen Streamlined Scoring System, which advocated for a tie-breaker to end prolonged sets and matches. His original nine-point “Sudden Death” tie-break was implemented at a Grand Slam event for the first time at the 1970 US Open, and it has evolved into today’s best-of-twelve-point tie-break.

In recognition of his contributions to the sport, Van Alen was enshrined in the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1965.