International Tennis Hall of Fame Reopens After Multimillion Dollar Renovation

Hall of Famer Gigi Fernandez, Governor Dan McKee, Hall of Fame President Patrick McEnroe and Hall of Fame CEO Dan Faber cut the ribbon on the newly renovated International Tennis Hall of Fame. (Photos courtesy of the International Tennis Hall of Fame)

If your idea of a Newport summer involves hitting the green with a tennis racquet in hand, now’s the time to get down to the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

The iconic Newport destination recently unveiled several new and updated exhibits showcasing the history of tennis, giving visitors new opportunities to interact with the sport’s greats and learn about its origins.

The Hall of Fame reopened on Wednesday, May 14, after several months of closure for renovations. The organization’s board and staff, including Hall of Famer Gigi Fernandez, along with donors and local and state officials gathered to celebrate the ribbon cutting.

“We are ecstatic to unveil these innovative, interactive spaces in the Museum and are grateful to those who partnered with us to preserve the history of the game and accomplish these renovations,” says Dan Faber, the Hall of Fame’s chief executive officer. “We cannot wait to welcome fans from around the world to Newport and our facility to celebrate tennis history and honor some of the sport’s most transformative champions.”

New to the museum is a Hall of Famers Gallery, featuring cast racquets honoring the Hall of Fame’s previous inductees. Visitors can explore the history of greats like James Dwight, the “Father of American Tennis” inducted into the first class in 1955, and May Sutton Bundy, the first woman inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1956, along with more recent inductees like Maria Sharapova and the Bryan brothers, who will be inducted this year.

The renovated museum also features a Celebration Gallery telling the story of how each new tennis generation has inspired the next. Among the artifacts on display are a “Statement CoolMax” shirt and shorts worn by eight-time Major winner Andre Agassi, Madison Keys’ outfit from her maiden major singles title earlier this year at the Australian Open, Jannik Sinner’s racquet from last year’s US Open Men’s Singles Championship, and an umpire’s scorecard from the 1968 match between Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall at the first-ever Open Era tournament. The exhibit also features the Inspirational Legacies AR Experience, an augmented reality sculpture designed to engage fans of all ages.

Visitors can also check out updated versions of the museum’s existing exhibits, including The Majors, an interactive journey through the Majors presented by Rolex and narrated by Roger Federer. Behind the main building, visit the renovated Court Tennis Viewing Gallery to see players in action on one of just forty-nine court tennis facilities in the world. The medieval-era sport was the precursor to modern lawn tennis and is still played in select locations. Afterward, take a peek at the US Open trophies in the Newport Tennis Traditions Gallery and visit the updated Welcome Center, Bellevue Boutique and Museum Store.

Though the Hall of Fame officially opened in 1954, the property’s history of tennis goes back to the sport’s beginnings in the United States, including hosting what would eventually become the US Open. The building opened in 1880 as the Newport Casino, a social club and venue that served the city’s elite. In 1881, the newly formed United States National Lawn Tennis Association held its first men’s singles championship on the casino lawn. The competition eventually moved to New York and became the US Open, and the building was resurrected as the Hall of Fame in 1954.

To learn more about visiting the Hall of Fame, visit tennisfame.com.

The new Hall of Famers Gallery at the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

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