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NEWPORT, R.I. — The International Tennis Hall of Fame will highlight the intricacies of the doubles game and the achievements of the greatest doubles teams in tennis history in a special exhibition at the US Open entitled Tennis Twosomes: Doubles Teams Across the Eras. Among the many teams featured in the exhibit will be Class of 2010 Hall of Fame Inductees Gigi Fernandez & Natasha Zvereva, Todd Woodbridge & Mark Woodforde, and mixed doubles star Owen Davidson. The International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum Gallery at the US Open will be open daily, August 30 – September 12, and admission is complimentary for guests attending the US Open. New this year, the gallery is located in the SmashZone at the Indoor Training Center.

“Doubles is a fascinating discipline of the game, and building a partnership that can attain significant success is a commendable achievement. This exhibit is a fitting tribute to the game and its players. It appropriately tops off an exciting year that has been marked by great doubles moments, including the Hall of Fame induction of five doubles stars and the record-setting victory achieved by the Bryan brothers,” said Mark L. Stenning, CEO of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum. “We’re pleased to offer this gallery, a small taste of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum, as part of the US Open experience for tennis fans.”

The exhibit will showcase more than 125 years of doubles competition, ranging from James Dwight & Richard Sears, who won 5 of the first 7 US Open titles in the 1880s – when the event was known as the U.S. National Lawn Tennis Championships – through Bob Bryan & Mike Bryan, who set the new record for most doubles wins in history when they captured their 62nd victory together in August of this year.

In addition to the recent Hall of Fame inductees, more than 25 teams are featured in the exhibit, including Ernest Renshaw & William Renshaw, Laurie Doherty & Reggie Doherty, John Newcombe & Tony Roche, Owen Davidson & Billie Jean King, Margaret Smith Court & Marty Riessen, Martina Navratilova & Pam Shriver, Peter Fleming & John McEnroe, and Serena Williams & Venus Williams. By showcasing the success of the greatest doubles teams, the exhibit explores the intricacies of the doubles discipline, a unique game that is often compared to the institution of marriage. The most successful teams function as a single unit. Each half of the unit believes in the other, trusts in the other. They enhance each other’s strengths and mask the other’s weaknesses. They recognize verbal and non-verbal cues with equal ease, and they pick each other up when they are down. They are in perfect sync. But being in perfect sync is not enough to make a successful doubles duo. Each partner needs to have the skill set that pays dividends in the doubles arena. They instinctively know when to poach at the net or the perfect moment to hit the clean winner up the alley. They must possess the quickest of reflexes for exciting volley exchanges and be able to generate impossible angles. Most importantly, each partner knows how to move with the other, rarely leaving any portion of the court vulnerable to attack.

Tennis Twosomes: Doubles Teams Across the Eras celebrates some of the most successful doubles partnerships in the history of the game. From the Renshaws and Dohertys, to the “Woodies,” Bryan brothers and Williams sisters, tennis is filled with teams who have put it together, persevered through the highs and lows, and have written their names into the history books of tennis.

Located in Newport, Rhode Island, the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum highlights the history of tennis from its 12th century 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 Twosomes: Doubles Teams Across the Eras, 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 visit tennisfame.com.