If you want to get into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, practice hard and win a bunch of majors, or come visit Your Survival Guy. It’s right across the street from my office. And with its recent renovation, it’s never looked so good. You can read about it here from Michael Silverman at the Boston Globe:
The museum, which drew 32,000 fans for the 10 months it was open last year — 15 percent of online ticket purchasers hailed from Massachusetts — remains the focus of the ITHF organization.
Its mission, said Faber, is three-fold: to promote and preserve the history of the game, celebrate its champions, and inspire generations globally.
To that end, the ITHF will decouple its Hall of Fame tournament from its annual induction ceremony. This year, an ATP-WTA Challenger event will be held in July during Wimbledon so that those who didn’t make it past the opening rounds can come play on the museum’s 13 grass courts.
Starting this year, the induction ceremony has been moved to a time slot one week before the US Open in New York begins, with the idea that it will be more convenient for honorees and their coteries to make an East Coast visit.
Maria Sharapova and Bob and Mike Bryan will be inducted Aug. 23-25.
In the coming years, interest is expected to be significant: Federer is slated for next August, Williams and Ash Barty in 2027, with Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray in the pipeline.
“All Hall of Famers are iconic, but the sport of tennis has not seen what we’re about to embark on in the next five-plus years, so it’s kind of like this ‘golden era,’ ” said Faber. “The goal is to become not only the ultimate honor in the sport of tennis, but the best Hall of Fame in all of sports.”
Action Line: When you’re ready to visit Your Survival Guy and tour the International Tennis Hall of Fame, email me at ejsmith@yoursurvivalguy.com. And, click here to subscribe to my free monthly Survive & Thrive letter.
