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 other people who have helped the sport grow. This big place, once called the Newport Casino, has a museum, many tennis courts, and even a theater. The Hall of Fame is a non-profit group. Its main goal is to keep the history of tennis alive, celebrate its heroes, and inspire new players all over the world.
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The Hall of Fame's Story
The Hall of Fame and museum are inside the Newport Casino. This building was first built in 1879 by James Gordon Bennett Jr. It was meant to be a fancy resort for rich people visiting Newport in the summer. Famous architects Charles McKim and Stanford White designed it. The building shows off a style called Victorian Shingle Style architecture. In 1881, more parts were added, like a court tennis building and a theater. The resort opened on July 1, 1880, and quickly became a popular spot.
The first United States Lawn Tennis Association championships were held here in 1881. This big event happened every year until 1914. By then, tennis was the main reason people came to the resort. The championship stopped during World War I.
By the 1950s, the resort was having money problems. People wanted to tear it down to build new shops. But a wealthy couple, Jimmy and Candy Van Alen, bought the building and saved it. In 1954, Jimmy Van Alen, who loved sports, started the National Tennis Hall of Fame and Museum inside the Casino. Having tennis matches and a museum helped keep the historic building safe.
Van Alen wanted the Hall of Fame to be "a special place for the game's ideals." He became its president in 1957. The United States Tennis Association officially supported the Hall of Fame when it started in 1954. In 1975, when England's Fred Perry was honored, it became the International Tennis Hall of Fame. The International Tennis Federation recognized it in 1986. The first members were added in 1955. By 2023, 262 people from 27 countries have been honored.
Some famous tennis players have become Global Ambassadors for the Hall of Fame. Martina Hingis was the first in 2015. Then Guga Kuerten joined in 2016, and Michael Chang in 2017. These ambassadors help share the Hall of Fame's message around the world.
The Hall of Fame's current leaders include former tennis stars like Kim Clijsters (Honorary President) and Patrick McEnroe (President).
TeamFAME: Inspiring Future Leaders
TeamFAME is a special program started by the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2018. It's part of the National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network. TeamFAME stands for Future Aces Modeling Excellence. This program offers activities for kids outside of school. It helps young people from communities that need more support.
TeamFAME helps kids learn new skills and reach their goals. It aims to inspire future leaders by teaching good character, helping with schoolwork, and promoting healthy living. They have programs all year, including after-school activities and 10-week summer tennis programs in local areas. You can learn more about TeamFAME on the International Tennis Hall of Fame website.
Exploring the Museum
The museum tells the story of tennis from the 12th century to today. It has about 30,000 items in its 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.
The museum's exhibits cover about 13,000 square feet. They are open all year round. The museum also has online exhibits you can explore. In May 2015, the museum reopened after a big update. The new exhibits are interactive, with videos and about 2,000 items. They show the history of tennis 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 works with the famous Smithsonian museums. The museum also partners with Google Arts & Culture.
Special Awards
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
Infosys Hall of Fame Open Tournament
The Hall of Fame hosts exciting tennis tournaments. One of the biggest is the Infosys Hall of Fame Open in July. This tournament is part of the US Open Series. It's also part of the men's ATP World Tour. It's the only grass court tennis event in North America. Top male players come to Newport right after playing at Wimbledon. They compete for the Van Alen Cup.
Famous past champions include John Isner (who won four times) and Mardy Fish from the USA. Also, Fabrice Santoro from France won twice, and Lleyton Hewitt from Australia. During this tournament, new members are officially welcomed into the Tennis Hall of Fame. Their families, friends, fans, and other Hall of Famers are there to celebrate.
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 become a Hall of Famer. First, someone 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, voting begins. Both a group of experts 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 extra points from the Fan Vote. An independent company counts all the votes. The new class of Hall of Famers is announced in January. They are officially welcomed into the Hall of Fame in July at the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame includes many famous players and contributors from around the world. These include tennis legends like Andre Agassi, Arthur Ashe, Boris Becker, Björn Borg, Maria Bueno, Jennifer Capriati, Michael Chang, Kim Clijsters, Jimmy Connors, Chris Evert, Steffi Graf, Justine Henin, Lleyton Hewitt, Martina Hingis, Lew Hoad, Billie Jean King, Jack Kramer, Gustavo Kuerten, Rod Laver, Ivan Lendl, Suzanne Lenglen, Li Na, John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova, John Newcombe, Pete Sampras, Monica Seles, Stan Smith, Margaret Smith Court, Bill Tilden, Virginia Wade, and Helen Wills.
It also honors important people who helped the sport in other ways, like Nick Bollettieri (a famous coach), Bud Collins (a well-known tennis writer), and Jimmy Van Alen (who saved the Newport Casino and founded the Hall of Fame).
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)
See also
In Spanish: Salón de la Fama del Tenis Internacional para niños
