International Tennis Hall of Fame Reopens Museum After Major Renovation
The International Tennis Hall of Fame reopens its museum after a major renovation, unveiling tech-driven exhibits and iconic tennis memorabilia.
The International Tennis Hall of Fame (ITHF) has officially reopened its Museum following an extensive, multimillion-dollar refurbishment – the first in over a decade.
The transformation, unveiled at an exclusive ribbon-cutting event on Wednesday, marks a new era for the institution, blending rich tennis heritage with cutting-edge technology.
ITHF CEO Dan Faber described the timing as pivotal. “We have to get ready for something I believe the sport of tennis has not seen ever, and who knows when it will happen again – the golden era,” said Faber, alluding to the forthcoming inductions of icons such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Serena and Venus Williams. “It’s going to be epic, and it’s going to come here to Newport, Rhode Island, which is really exciting.”
At the heart of the remodel is the newly designed Celebration Gallery, featuring a striking 14-foot “Inspirational Legacies” sculpture made up of 131 floating white tennis balls.
Each ball serves as a digital gateway, allowing visitors to access inspirational stories about tennis legends through augmented reality on their smartphones.
A major innovation is the complete redesign and relocation of the Hall of Famers’ Gallery, now showcasing inductees with a newly introduced cast bronze racquet – a permanent symbol of their honour.
Credit: ITHF
Accompanying each plaque is a QR code and interactive digital displays, including three large LED screens linked to tablets.
Visitors can explore speeches, match highlights, and personalised stories of the inductees, making the experience both educational and immersive.
“This bronze racquet was one of the earliest concepts presented by Advent, and it beautifully symbolises our logo and the legacy of each Hall of Famer,” said Julilana Barbieri, Senior Vice President of Content and Partnerships at ITHF.
The renovation has also allowed for a significant expansion of the museum’s display capacity. Previously, only 10% of the Hall’s artefacts were visible to the public. Now, with increased space, more of tennis history can be showcased.
Among the updated features are:
- The Majors, presented by Rolex: An interactive digital journey through Grand Slam tournaments, narrated by Roger Federer.
- The Newport Tennis Traditions Gallery: Highlighting the origins of the sport in Newport and showcasing US Open trophies throughout the year.
- Hall of Famers’ Lounge: A newly opened event and meeting space.
- A reimagined Welcome Centre, Bellevue Boutique retail outlet, and exit experience.
- An enhanced Court Tennis Viewing Gallery, offering insight into racquet sports and overlooking one of only 49 court tennis courts in the world.
Visitors can also look forward to new exhibits featuring contemporary and historic memorabilia, including:
- Andre Agassi’s "Statement CoolMax" outfit worn during his Grand Slam wins.
- Naomi Osaka’s racquet from her 2020 US Open victory.
- Elena Rybakina’s equipment from her 2022 Wimbledon triumph.
- Jannik Sinner’s racquet from his 2024 US Open win.
- A scorecard from the landmark 1968 Open Era match between Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall.
- A rare 1926 scorecard from a match between Helen Wills and Suzanne Lenglen in Cannes.
The reopening represents a milestone for the ITHF, reaffirming its role as both guardian and storyteller of tennis history, just in time for what many are calling a golden age of the sport.
