News

NEWPORT, RI — The International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum will display a special museum exhibition at the US Open featuring an in depth look at the evolution of tennis racquets and tennis fashions throughout the history of the sport. The exhibit will feature a display of rare items from the Hall of Fame’s collection, as well as an interactive touch table in which visitors can further explore the topic. Among the items on display are the racquet that Arthur Ashe used to win the 1968 US Open, Rene Lacoste’s crocodile jacket, and Venus Williams’ black lace outfit from the 2010 French Open.

“Tennis Evolves: Racquets and Fashion utilizes rare pieces from the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum’s extensive collection to showcase progress that has been made in racquets and fashions, and the impact this progress has had across all levels of the sport,” said Museum Director Doug Stark. “We are glad to be back at the US Open once again this year and to provide fans with this unique opportunity to learn about tennis’ rich history through our museum collection. New this year, we have added some interactive touch tables that will enable the fans to actively engage with the exhibit and learn more about this interesting topic.”

Tennis Evolves: Racquets and Fashion will be open daily, August 25 – September 8, and is located in the American Express US Open Fan Experience in the Chase Center. Admission is complimentary for guests attending the US Open. This is the Hall of Fame’s 16th consecutive year hosting a museum exhibit on site at the US Open.

In examining the evolution of tennis racquets, the exhibit will explore how racquet manufacturers have experimented with frame shape and size, materials, strings, stringing patterns, and handle shape to get to today’s modern equipment. The exhibit will showcase the evolution from wooden racquets with tilted heads of the 1800’s through today’s modern graphite racquets.

On the fashion side, the exhibit will showcase how tennis players’ fashion choices have always added flair to the sport and have evolved with the times. The exhibit will explore everything from how proper tennis whites became fashionable to hide perspiration to how players became more and more daring with their looks to assert their individuality. Designers including René Lacoste, Fred Perry, and Ted Tinling will be featured, alongside today’s highly customized, branded apparel.

In addition to the artifacts from the Hall of Fame collection that will be displayed, new this year, the exhibit will be presented on an interactive touch table that will allow fans to learn more about the interesting history that has led to today’s sophisticated racquets and stylish tennis apparel.

Located in Newport, Rhode Island, the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum highlights the history of tennis from its origins through present-day, as well as the fascinating life stories of the game’s greatest athletes and industry contributors. The extensive collection features vintage tennis equipment, video highlights and iconic photos, tennis apparel ranging from Victorian dresses to modern fashions, tennis inspired paintings and fine arts, and memorabilia from remarkable moments as recent as the current-year Grand Slams. Changing exhibits and special exhibitions, similar to Tennis Evolves: Racquets and Fashion are displayed year-round in the museum.

For additional information about the exhibit at the US Open or about the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum, please call 401-849-3990 or visit tennisfame.com.