US OPEN SERIES BOLSTERS SUMMER TENNIS SEASON WITH ADDITION OF HALL OF FAME OPEN IN NEWPORT, R.I.

 

 Historic ATP 250 Grass-Court Tournament to Launch 2020 US Open Series

 

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. AND NEWPORT, R.I., November 4, 2019 – The United States Tennis Association (USTA) and International Tennis Hall of Fame today announced that the Hall of Fame Open, an ATP 250 grass-court tournament that has long kicked off the U.S. summer tennis season, will officially join the US Open Series beginning in 2020, increasing the number of ATP events on the Series to six and reconnecting the US Open with its original home in Newport, R.I.

 

Scheduled for July 12-19, 2020, the Hall of Fame Open will launch the 17th year of the US Open Series. The tournament will now receive the same level of on-site, broadcast, digital and grassroots support from the USTA provided to all US Open Series tournaments. ADVERTISEMENT

 

The Hall of Fame Open is the only ATP grass-court event played outside of Europe. As the first stop of the summer season in the States, the event generally draws a strong group of Americans among the diverse international player field. Recent champions have included No. 1 American John Isner, who has won the title a record four times, including 2019, and fellow American Steve Johnson, who won last year’s title.

 

The tournament has been an annual ATP stop since 1976, but the venue boasts a rich tennis history that dates back much farther. In 1881, it was the site of the first U.S. National Lawn Tennis Championships. The tournament was contested in Newport annually until 1914. It moved to New York in 1915, where it evolved and thrives today as the US Open. In a nod to its original home, the perpetual US Open trophies are displayed in Newport for museum visitors to see year round, and are transported to New York every August for the tournament.

 

“It is wonderful to be able to connect our present-day tournament with the venue’s great history as the birthplace of the US Open. Additionally, we are excited to partner with the USTA and the US Open Series tournaments to kick off the summer season and to collectively shine a broader spotlight on tennis in the U.S.,” said Todd Martin, CEO, International Tennis Hall of Fame. “In our historic setting, the Hall of Fame Open already offers a special experience for the players and fans and we look forward to enhancing this experience with the USTA’s partnership.”

 

“The addition of the Hall of Fame Open to the US Open Series simply makes the North American summer tennis season stronger,” said Stacey Allaster, Chief Executive, Professional Tennis, USTA. “The rich history of the tournament, combined with the power and equity of the US Open brand and a mutual focus on building new generations of audiences and tennis players, will serve both the Hall of Fame Open and the Series as a whole in showcasing a world-class tennis event and growing the game.”

 

The USTA continues to invest in both the professional and grassroots elements of the US Open Series tournaments to promote the game and grow participation. Since its inception in 2004, the US Open Series has expanded television viewing opportunities with a cohesive and easy-to-follow schedule, while also increasing attendance and generating new corporate partnerships for its tournaments. In addition, the Series will continue to engage its local tournament communities with a variety of community outreach initiatives, including grassroots clinics and activities involving Net Generation, the youth tennis initiative of the USTA.

 

About the Hall of Fame Open

Hosted on the historic grass courts of the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, the Hall of Fame Open is the only ATP Tour event played in the Northeast and the only pro tournament played on grass courts in North and South America. The 2020 tournament will be held July 12 - 19, 2020. In addition to exciting pro tennis, a highlight of the week will be the International Tennis Hall of Fame Class of 2020 Enshrinement Ceremony on July 18. The tournament is owned and operated by the International Tennis Hall of Fame, and proceeds directly support the organization’s efforts to preserve and promote tennis history, celebrate its greatest champions, and inspire the future of the sport. For additional information, visit www.halloffameopen.com.

 

About the US Open Series

Entering its 17th season in 2020, the world's best players on the WTA and ATP Tour are coming together for the US Open Series. Linking eight summer WTA and ATP Tour tournaments to the US Open, the US Open Series serves as a true “regular season” of summer tennis in North America. Featuring a cohesive schedule, the Series centralizes the way tennis is viewed in North America, across multiple television and digital platforms. Fans will see today's top champions go head-to-head with tomorrow's emerging stars, as storylines develop throughout the summer season. Each tournament also engages its local community with a variety of outreach initiatives, including grass-roots youth tennis clinics and activities.

 

About the ATP

The ATP is the governing body of the men's professional tennis circuits - the ATP Tour, the ATP Challenger Tour and the ATP Champions Tour. With 64 tournaments in 30 countries, the ATP Tour showcases the finest male athletes competing in the world’s most exciting venues. From Australia to Europe and the Americas to Asia, the stars of the 2019 ATP Tour will battle for prestigious titles and ATP Rankings points at ATP Masters 1000, 500 and 250 events, as well as Grand Slams (non-ATP events). At the end of the season only the world’s top 8 qualified singles players and doubles teams will qualify to compete for the last title of the season at the Nitto ATP Finals. Held at The O2 in London, the event will officially crown the 2019 ATP World No. 1. The Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan is the season-ending tournament for the world’s best 21-and-Under players. For more information, please visit www.ATPTour.com