International Tennis Hall of Fame facts for kids
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| Established | 1880 1954 (Hall of fame and museum) |
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| Location | Newport, Rhode Island |
| Type | Professional sports hall of fame; museum; National Historic Landmark; tennis club; court tennis club; tennis tournament venue |
| Accreditation | American Alliance of Museums |
| Founder | James J. Van Alen |
| Public transit access | RIPTA |
The International Tennis Hall of Fame is a special place in Newport, Rhode Island, USA. It celebrates amazing tennis players and others who have helped the sport grow. This big complex used to be called the Newport Casino. It has a museum, many tennis courts, and even a theater.
The Hall of Fame is a non-profit group. Its main goals are to keep the history of tennis alive, celebrate its heroes, and inspire new players around the world.
This location was once the original home of the U.S. National Championships. This big tournament is now known as the US Open. Since 1976, the complex has also hosted the Hall of Fame Open every July. This event includes both men's and women's tennis matches.
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History of the Hall of Fame
The Hall of Fame and museum are inside the Newport Casino. This building was built in 1879 by James Gordon Bennett Jr.. He wanted it to be a fancy resort for rich people visiting Newport in the summer. Famous architects Charles McKim and Stanford White designed it. It's a great example of Victorian Shingle Style architecture.
The Newport Casino opened on July 1, 1880. It quickly became a popular spot for summer visitors. In 1881, a special court for "Real Tennis" and a theater were added.
The United States Lawn Tennis Association held its first championships here in 1881. This event happened every year until 1914. By then, tennis was the main attraction at the resort. The championship paused during World War I.
By the 1950s, the resort was having money problems. People's travel tastes had changed. The building was almost torn down to make way for new stores. But a wealthy couple, Jimmy and Candy Van Alen, bought and saved it.
In 1954, Jimmy Van Alen, who loved sports, started the National Tennis Hall of Fame and Museum inside the Casino. Having both tennis matches and a museum helped save the historic building.
Van Alen wanted the Hall of Fame to be "a shrine to the ideals of the game." He became its president in 1957. The United States Tennis Association officially supported the Hall of Fame when it started in 1954. In 1975, it became the International Tennis Hall of Fame. This happened when England's Fred Perry was inducted. The International Tennis Federation recognized it in 1986.
The first members were inducted in 1955. By 2023, a total of 262 people from 27 countries had been honored.
Some famous tennis players have also become "Global Ambassadors" for the Hall of Fame. These include Martina Hingis (in 2015), Guga Kuerten (in 2016), and Michael Chang (in 2017).
The current Board of Governors includes former tennis stars. These are Kim Clijsters (Honorary President), Patrick McEnroe (President), Gigi Fernández, Katrina Adams, and Vijay Amritraj.
The Tennis Museum
The museum tells the story of tennis from the 12th century to today. It has about 30,000 items in its main collection. These include old and new tennis gear, art, trophies, clothes, and items from Hall of Famers.
The museum also has a research center. It holds 5,000 books, over 3,000 videos and audio recordings, and more than a million photos. There are also many magazines and historical documents. All these items are shown in the museum's 13,000 square feet of exhibit space. The museum also has digital exhibits you can explore online.
Museum Renovations
The museum had a big makeover and reopened in May 2015. The new exhibits are interactive and have lots of videos. They show about 2,000 items related to tennis history and its champions.
The museum was first recognized by the American Alliance of Museums in 2013. It was recognized again in 2022. In 2017, it became a Smithsonian Affiliate. This means it partners with the famous Smithsonian museums. It also works with the Google Arts & Culture project.
In May 2025, the museum showed off another new look after a $3 million renovation. Old exhibits were updated, and new interactive ones were added. A new "Hall of Famers Gallery" was also created. This gallery has a metal racquet for each of the 270 Hall of Fame members.
Awards Given by the Hall of Fame
The International Tennis Hall of Fame gives out several important awards. These awards honor people who have made a big difference in tennis. Some of these awards include:
- 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 Tournament
The Hall of Fame hosts several tennis tournaments. The most famous is the Hall of Fame Open in July. This tournament is part of the US Open Series. It is also part of the men's ATP World Tour. It is the only grass court tennis event in North America.
Top male players often come to Newport right after playing at Wimbledon. They compete for the Van Alen Cup at the Hall of Fame. Past champions include Americans John Isner and Mardy Fish. Also, Fabrice Santoro from France won twice, and Australia's Lleyton Hewitt is a past champion.
During this tournament, new Tennis Hall of Famers are officially welcomed. This special ceremony happens in front of their families, friends, fans, and other Hall of Fame members.
Becoming a Hall of Famer
Being chosen for the Tennis Hall of Fame is the highest honor in tennis. It means a person's achievements and contributions are among the most important in tennis history.
There is a seven-step process to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. First, a player or contributor must be nominated. Then, a special committee checks if they are eligible. If they are, the committee decides if voters should consider them.
After that, the voting begins. Both a special group and fans get to vote. A nominee needs at least 75% of the votes from the Official Voting Group. Or, they can get a combined total of 75% or more from the Official Voting Group and bonus points from the Fan Vote. An independent accounting firm counts all the votes.
The new class of Hall of Famers is announced in January. The official induction ceremony happens in July at the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Players are divided into different groups for induction. These include Masters Players, Players, and Recent Players. There is also a special group for Wheelchair Tennis players.
Global Ambassadors
Three players have been named "Global Ambassadors" for the Hall of Fame. They help promote the Hall of Fame and the sport around the world.
| Name | Nationality | Year appointed | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hingis, Martina |  Switzerland |
2015 | |
| Kuerten, Gustavo |  Brazil |
2016 | |
| Chang, Michael |  USA |
2017 |
See also
In Spanish: Salón de la Fama del Tenis Internacional para niños
- Tenniseum
- List of sports awards honoring women
Images for kids
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International Tennis Hall of Fame
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International Tennis Hall of Fame
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Front Lawn courts with indoor tennis club and outdoor hard courts in background.
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International Tennis Hall of Fame (Fred Perry sculpture in foreground)
