By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, November 8, 2023
The 2024 season marks the end of a grass-court era.
The Newport Hall of Fame Open will retire its ATP license after the 2024 tournament.
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Played on the historic grass-court grounds of the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, the 250-level Hall of Fame Open is the only ATP grass-court tournament played outside of Europe.
The Hall of Fame Open, set for July 14-21st, 2024, will be the final edition of the ATP 250 tournament in Newport.
"The ITHF’s current ATP 250 tournament sanction will be retired at the conclusion of the 2024 Infosys Hall of Fame Open," the Hall of Fame announced today. "The announcement coincides with a broader drive by the ATP Tour to enhance the overall tournament calendar, under its OneVision strategic plan.
"The Infosys Hall of Fame Open will take place in Newport as scheduled from July 14-21, 2024. The ITHF is also in the process of reimagining professional tennis in Newport with the expectation that beginning in 2025 a new era of pro tennis on the historic courts will begin."
Newport has a storied tennis history.
The original U.S. National Lawn Tennis Championship was played in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1881 on the now legendary grass courts at the International Tennis Hall of Fame. That tournament evolved into today's US Open.
In recent years, the timing of the Hall of Fame Open, coming after Wimbledon when many players take a break to prepare for the North American hard-court summer season, made it tough at times to attract European players though Frenchman Adrian Mannarino won Newport last July.
Hall of Fame officials announced they are pursuing other pro events and expect to launch—whether it's a combined ATP/WTA tournament or an exhibition event remains to be seen—in 2025.
“World-class tennis has been part of the fabric of Newport for nearly 150 years and will continue to have an ongoing presence at the International Tennis Hall of Fame,” said ITHF CEO Dan Faber. “The ITHF is actively exploring the opportunities to host new professional tennis events in Newport.
"In addition, we will continue to strengthen our digital programming, museum and visitor experience, worldwide presence, and presentation of the Ultimate Honor in Tennis – induction into the Hall of Fame.”
Photo credit: International Tennis Hall of Fame