Game, set, match: Newport’s International Tennis Hall of Fame has lost its premier tournament, the ITHF announced today.
The ATP, the organization behind the men’s tennis tour, says it won’t renew the Infosys Hall of Fame Open after 2024. The tournament is a stop on the ATP 250 tour, the lowest tier of men’s professional tennis tournaments.
Tennis Hall of Fame CEO Dan Faber says his organization is still determining what comes next, but he plans to host high-level professional tennis in Newport.
“We are excited about the opportunity to bring in women’s professional tennis with men’s professional tennis,” Faber said. “We’re excited about the opportunity to bring in high-level exhibition matches that will match the brands of those that are going to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.”
Tennis has a 150-year history in the City by the Sea, and the Hall of Fame’s storied grass courts have been a draw for tennis fans and tourists, as well as dollars. The Hall of Fame Open was first held in 1976, and it is currently the only professional tournament played on grass outside of Europe, according to the ATP.
“Certainly, there’s a level of nostalgia, given the history and tenure of the ATP tour stop in Newport, but it’s coupled with excitement for what is to come,” Evan Smith, president and CEO of Discover Newport, said in a statement. “There is no anticipated loss of tourism or revenue, as noted the International Tennis Hall of Fame will be introducing new events in 2025 and with that will come the opportunity for growth, of their programming and its impact on the city.”
The Infosys Hall of Fame Open is scheduled to take place in Newport for the last time in July 2024.
