News

NEWPORT, R.I. — No. 1 American John Isner and Aussie tennis great Lleyton Hewitt are the first two players to commit to the field for the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships, to be played at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, July 5 – 13. The tournament, which is held directly after Wimbledon, is the only event played on grass courts in North or South America, and the only ATP World Tour event in New England.

“I always enjoy playing the tournament in Newport. The fans, the venue, and the field always make for a great week, and I’m looking forward to coming back this summer,” commented Isner.

Isner is currently world No. 13 in the ATP World Tour rankings and the No. 1 American player. He will be making his fourth consecutive appearance in Newport, where he won the title in 2011 and 2012, and was a semifinalist in 2013, falling to Hewitt. This year, his season got off to a strong start when he captured the title at the Heineken Open in New Zealand in January — his eighth career title. Following New Zealand, Isner was out for a few weeks dealing with an injury, but made a strong comeback last week at the Delray Beach Open by The Venetian Las Vegas, where he was a semifinalist.

Hewitt, a former world No. 1 who has been runner up at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships the past two years, commented, “The Hall of Fame Tennis Championships has been a highlight of my summer the past couple of years. I’ve had some great matches there and strong results, and I’m eager to get back to compete in Newport again this July.”

Hewitt has had strong start this year as well, winning the title at the season opener in Brisbane. It was the 29th title of his lengthy career, which has included two victories at Grand Slam tournaments- the US Open in 2001 and Wimbledon in 2002. An ATP World Tour veteran of 17 years, Hewitt consistently continues to deliver some of the most exciting matches on tour. He is currently the No. 1 Australian player and is ranked world No. 42.

“With John Isner and Lleyton Hewitt in the player field, tennis fans should look forward to an exciting week of tennis this summer in Newport to kick off the ATP World Tour’s North American summer swing,” said Tournament Director Mark L. Stenning. “We look forward to welcoming John and Lleyton back to Newport.”

A unique part of the festivities of the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships is always the Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony, when the highest honor in tennis is presented to great champions and leaders in the sport. The Hall of Fame Class of 2014 will be announced on March 3 as part of World Tennis Day. The nominees are Lindsay Davenport, Mary Pierce, Conchita Martinez, Chantal Vandierendonck, Nick Bollettieri, Jane Brown Grimes, and John Barrett. The Enshrinement Ceremony will be held on Saturday, July 12, just prior to the semifinals of the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships.

Tournament tickets, including access to the Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony are available now. Hall of Fame Members save $5 on tickets, and enjoy many other benefits throughout tournament week, including access to a Member Lounge, first-in-line status for autographs, and much more. Tickets and membership info is available on HallofFameTennisChampionships.com or by phone at (401) 849-6053