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Recent ITHF Activities
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ITHF in the News: Barcelona
See details below about our recent activities in Spain.
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Dear Friends,
The first quarter of the year is already over and tennis around the world has been successful and exciting! A highlight of the early part of the year was certainly the new World Tennis Day, on March 4, which also featured the announcement of the talented individuals who will be enshrined at the International Tennis Hall of Fame this coming July. You can read more about the Class of 2013 Hall of Famers below.
The first quarter of 2013 also brought great opportunities for the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum to share our mission of celebrating the worldwide history of tennis with fans around the globe. Last month we had the opportunity to visit with the tennis community in Barcelona and to share the exciting news that we will be bringing a special museum exhibition to be displayed in their Olympic and Sports Museum Joan Antoni Samaranch next year. We are grateful for the museum's partnership in helping us to showcase this interesting facet of tennis history to their many visitors.
The last time I was there, I was playing for the US Davis Cup team, and it was nice to return and see dear friends and opponents, like Manuel Orantes. The museum exhibit announcement was made in a special ceremony at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, at which I also surprised Manuel with his Hall of Fame ring. It was a pleasure to have his Spanish compatriot and Hall of Famer Andres Gimeno join in this honor! The trip provided great opportunities to showcase the work of the Hall of Fame, and for me, it was personally a great experience to return to the incredible city of Barcelona for the first time in nearly 40 years. I enjoyed visiting with another friend and great Hall of Famer, Manolo Santana, while at the Godó tournament as well.
In addition to updates from our Spanish trip, below you'll find some news and updates from the Hall of Fame - new museum exhibitions, upcoming events, and commentary from our international visitors. Please feel free to pass this along to your many tennis friends and colleagues around the world!
I hope you enjoy all the great tennis to be seen and played in the coming months - Roland Garros and Wimbledon, followed by the exciting Hall of Fame Tennis Championships and the Enshrinement Ceremony. We look forward to honoring the Class of 2013 and celebrating with many special guests who will join us in Newport, including Hall of Famers Rod Laver and Billie Jean King. I hope to see you there too!
Best,
Stan Smith
President
1987 Hall of Famer |
International Tennis Hall of Fame to install exhibition in Barcelona
"Tennis and the Olympics" will open in 2014 at the Olympic and Sports Museum Joan Antoni Samaranch
The International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum and the Olympic and Sports Museum Joan Antoni Samaranch in Barcelona have embarked on a new partnership in which the Hall of Fame will provide a special exhibition entitled Tennis and the Olympics, to be shown inside the Olympic and Sports Museum. The partnership was announced at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell in a special ceremony attended by Hall of Famer and ITHF President Mr. Stan Smith; Mr. Albert Agustí Garcia-Navarro, President of the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona - 1899; Mrs. Maite Fandos, President of the Fundació Barcelona Olímpica; and Mr. José Luis Escañuela President of the Real Federación Española de Tenis. The exhibit will be on display January - March 2014. The organizers gathered with media and Spanish tennis industry leaders for a ceremonial signing of an official agreement to mark the new partnership.
"Tennis is one of the world's most international sports, and it has had a rich history within the Olympic movement. We are delighted for this unique opportunity to showcase tennis' role in the Games for the fans who visit the Olympic and Sports Museum," said Stan Smith. Click here to read more.
An unveiling of the exhibits and ceremonial document signing was hosted during the Barcelona Open
Banc Sabadell.
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International Tennis Hall of Fame hosts
the first International Dialogue in Barcelona!
Hall of Fame President Mr. Stan Smith and International Committee member Mr. Juan María Tintoré were hosts to the first ITHF International Dialogue, a meeting with Hall of Famers, prominent sports and tennis figures, sponsors, and national business leaders organized to exchange ideas, concepts and plans to enhance ITHF's international presence. The event took place during the recent Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell in Casa Justo at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona - 1899. Some of the special guests in attendance included Mrs. María Teresa Samaranch, President of the Federación Española de Deportes de Hielo; Mr. Albert Agustí Garcia-Navarro, President of the RCTB-1899, prominent mountain-climber and President of Panatlhón Club International de Barcelona, Dr. Josep Pujante; Hall of Famers Mr. Andrés Gimeno and Mr. Manuel Santana; tennis champions Mrs. Conchita Martínez, Mr. Luis Arilla, and Mr. Joan Gisbert, among others. Stimulating conversation and wonderful ideas were exchanged, and we are grateful for the support and dedication of these leaders to help us grow an international presence for the Hall of Fame in the future.
--> The International Dialogue is part of a worldwide program with sessions programmed for all continents. The next one will be held in London, during Wimbledon.
International Dialogue event at Casa Justo inside the RCTB-1899 in Barcelona.
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Spanish tennis great Manuel Orantes and Swedish star Mats Wilander presented Hall of Fame rings
 | | Stan Smith, Manuel Orantes, Andres Gimeno |
In 1975 Spanish tennis star Manuel Orantes was elevated to the status of national hero when he upset the world No. 1 Jimmy Connors to win the US Open title. Last year, Orantes was presented the highest honor in the sport of tennis, enshrinement in the International Tennis Hall of Fame. At the recent Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, Orantes' tremendous tennis career and his Hall of Fame enshrinement was celebrated once again before his friends and countrymen by the presentation of his official Hall of Fame ring. President Stan Smith traveled to Barcelona to presente the ring, and Hall of Famer Andres Gimeno joined in the celebration. Click here to read more.
 | | Watch the video for Mats' thoughts on his Hall of Fame ring! |
 Swedish tennis great Mats Wilander burst onto the pro tennis scene in 1982 when he upset four seeded players to win the French Open as an unseeded 17-year-old. He went on to achieve world No. 1 status and to win an additional six Grand Slam singles titles and one doubles title, among many other career successes. In recognition of his accomplishments, Wilander was enshrined in the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2002. In a special ceremony at the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships this important achievement was celebrated once again with the presentation of his official Hall of Fame ring.
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Recent Player Category
Martina Hingis,
Switzerland
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Master Player Category
Thelma Coyne Long,
Australia
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Contributor Category
Three individuals who transitioned from successful playing careers to leadership roles in tennis have been elected.
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| Cliff Drysdale
USA | Charlie Pasarell
USA | Ion Tiriac
Romania |
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Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the
International Tennis Federation!
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The Hall of Fame is pleased to salute the 100th anniversary of the International Tennis Federation with a commemorative exhibit now on display in the museum! |
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) was founded on March 1st, 1913.
The ITF is the highest entity of the sport of tennis, and it was founded to bring uniformity to a sport that continues to grow exponentially around the globe. This governing entity oversees the Fed Cup, Davis Cup, Hopman Cup and tennis in the Olympic Games as well as the rules and equipment, such as tennis balls. This institution is one of the biggest sports associations in the world, with over 200 members from different countries.
Just a few highlights over the past 100 years:
1923 - The ITF takes over the official rules of tennis worldwide, taking effect on January 1st, 1924.
1948 - The ITF creates the International Ball Committee and it starts the standardization of tennis balls.
1977 - The International Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF) changed its title and it became the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
1988 - Tennis returns to the Olympic games.
2006 - The debut of the electronic line-calling. Hawk-Eye makes it debut at the Hopman Cup in Perth.
2008 - The arrival of the beach tennis with 14 tournaments which grows to over 100 after four years.
2013 - 100th anniversary of the ITF and the launch of World Tennis Day on March 4th. |
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Draft of Alice Marble's personal memoirs,
Bill Cosby's Personal Guide to Tennis Power.
Brigitte Bardot with Tony Trabert, 1961.
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In April 2013, the International Tennis Hall of Fame opened a special exhibit showcasing the popularity of the sport of tennis with Hollywood's elite. A naturally social sport that initially catered to an upscale crowd, tennis became a natural pastime for many big screen stars. When tennis first rose to popularity in the early 1900s, tennis legends like Alice Marble and Frank Parker were known to share their expertise by giving lessons to stars. Today, it's not uncommon to see movie stars such as Alec Baldwin, Sean Connery, Nicole Kidman, Adam Sandler and Matthew Perry in the stands of important tennis events. The special exhibit features dynamic imagery, video highlights showcasing tennis in the movies, and special items including movie scripts that were focused on tennis. The exhibit will be displayed for one year.
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Welcoming tennis fans from around the world!
 | | Daniel Martinelli, an international visitor and tennis fan from Brazil! |
Daniel Martinelli, of Brazil recently visited the museum, where he enjoyed the tribute exhibit for 2012 Hall of Famer Guga Kuerten. Here is what Daniel had to say about his visit: "Foi um prazer poder visitar o Hall of Fame. Eu trabalho com tênis e fãs do esporte no Brasil e tive a oportunidade de conhecer melhor a história do tênis e seus grandes jogadores, e agora eu vou poder passar esta experiência para eles que com certeza gostarão de fazer uma visita ao salão. O museu tem exibições exepcionais, e eu adoraria ter ficado mais tempo e ter aproveitado tudo que o museu tem para oferecer."
"It was a pleasure to be able to visit the Hall of Fame. I work with tennis and fans of the sport in Brazil. At the museum I had the opportunity to learn more about the history of tennis and its best players, and now I will be able to share this experience with my friends and colleagues back at home. I am sure they will want to visit the Hall of Fame! The exhibits at the museum are exceptional, and I only wish I had more time to enjoy everything the museum has to offer."
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Special interview with Hall of Famer Andres Gimeno
In April 2013, Mr. Gimeno released a new book reflecting on his life and career as a tennis professional.
 | | Interview with Andres Gimeno |
Why did you decide now was the right time to write a book?
I decided to write my memories now because at 75 years old, it is a nice time for me to look back on all my tennis memories, and I believe my personal experience can contribute to the sport's fans, players, and leaders. Tennis has been my life and my passion. I had an amazing life during all the years as a professional tennis player, I believe everyone will enjoy hearing about those experiences in reading this book. I appreciate having this opportunity to share these stories, and I thank the two journalists who have helped me make this book possible - Manel Serras and Jaume Pujol-Galceran
What are some of your favorite memories that are in the book?
My favorite tennis memory will always be winning Roland Garros at age 34. I think readers will enjoy other parts of my story as well though - I've included memories from my tennis travels from Nairobi to England, and stories of my experiences in big tournaments and small, and about playing during the pre-Open Era and the Open Era.
Also, of course you won the Conde de Godo trophy. What did that mean for you win in Barcelona?
Click here to read more of the interview with Andres Gimeno. The interview is available in Spanish, here.
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About the International Tennis Hall of Fame:
The Ultimate Tennis Destination
From the extensive tennis museum and beautiful historic grass courts that you can play on, to the exciting pro tennis tournament with seats right by the action and the remarkable Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony, the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum is the ultimate destination for tennis fans! Click a flag below to see a video about the Hall of Fame in the languages noted. To our friends in the tennis industry: Printed materials and info about the Hall of Fame is available in multiple languages. Feel free to spread the word!
   
Click here for other languages.
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The Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony will be hosted on July 13.
