International Tennis Hall of Fame


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, grass tennis courts, an indoor tennis facility, and a court tennis facility.

History

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. In 1881, the Real Tennis Court 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 Tennis Hall of Fame and Museum in the Casino. 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. The International Tennis Hall of Fame was officially sanctioned by the United States Tennis Association at its foundation in 1954. It was recognized by the International Tennis Federation in 1986. The first Hall of Fame members were inducted in 1955; as of 2017, a total of 252 inductees from 23 countries have been recognized..
In 2015, Martina Hingis was appointed as the first Global Ambassador for the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
The current Board of Governors includes former professional tennis players Todd Martin, Stan Smith and Katrina Adams.

Collection

The museum houses a large collection of artifacts and memorabilia - including videos, photographs, audio recordings, tennis equipment and apparel, trophies, and art - highlighting the history of tennis from its origins up through the modern era. The collection is displayed year-round in the museum's of exhibit space.

Awards

The Hall of Fame hosts several tournaments, including the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships. 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, and Mardy Fish, as well as two-time champion Fabrice Santoro of France.

Members

Player category

NameLife spanNationalityYear inductedRef
Adams, Russ1930–2017United States2007
Adee, George1874–1948United States1964
Baker, Lawrence1890–1980United States1975
Barrett, John1931–Great Britain2014
Bollettieri, Nick1931–United States2014
Braden, Vic1929–2014United States2017
Brown Grimes, Jane1941–United States2014
Buchholz Jr., Earl1940–United States2005
Chatrier, Philippe1926–2000France1992
Clerici, Gianni1930–Italy2006
Collins, Arthur "Bud"1929–2016United States1994
Cullman III, Joseph1912–2004United States1990
Danzig, Allison1898–1987United States1968
Davies, Michael1936–Wales2012
David, Herman1905–1974Great Britain1998
Dell, Donald1937–United States2009
Drysdale, Cliff1941–South Africa2013
Flink, Steve1952–United States2017
Gray, David1927–1983Great Britain1985
Griffin, Clarence1888–1973United States1970
Gustav V of Sweden1858–1950Sweden1980
Hardwick, Derek1921–1987Great Britain2010
Heldman, Gladys1922–2003United States1979
Hester, William1912–1993United States1981
Hunt, Lamar1932–2006United States1993
Jeffett, Nancy1928–2017United States2015
Johnson, Robert1899–1971United States2009
Jones, Perry1890–1970United States1970
Kelleher, Robert1913–2012United States2000
Kellmeyer, Fern "Peachy"1944–United States2011
Laney, Al1895–1988United States1979
Martin, Alastair1915–2010United States1973
Maskell, Dan1908–1992Great Britain1996
McChesney Martin, William1906–1998United States1982
McCormack, Mark1930–2003United States2008
Myrick, Julian1880–1969United States1963
Nielsen, Arthur1923–1980United States1971
Outerbridge, Mary1852–1886United States1979
Parks, Brad1957–United States2010
Pasarell, Charlie1944–United States2013
Scott, Eugene "Gene"1937–2006United States2008
Tingay, Lance1915–1990Great Britain1982
Tinling, Ted1910–1990Great Britain1986
Ţiriac, Ion1939–Romania2013
Tobin, Brian1930–Australia2003
Van Alen, James1902–1991United States1965
Wingfield, Walter Clopton1833–1912Great Britain1997

Global Ambassador category

Nationalities