News

Newport, R.I. — In conjunction with the 2010 Hall of Fame Induction Weekend, the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I. will host an exhibition match featuring the newest inductees to the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Sunday, July 11 at 10:00 a.m. The Hall of Fame Classic will feature the highly successful women’s duo of Gigi Fernandez and Natasha Zvereva, as well as Australian doubles specialists Mark Woodforde and Owen Davidson.

Tickets for the exhibition are $20 and are available now on tennisfame.com or by calling 866-914-3263 (FAME). In addition, tickets may be purchased at the ticket window on the day of the match. Box seat tickets for the finals of the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships on Sunday will be valid for the exhibition match as well.

The day offers a full day of action on Center Court, as the match will be followed by the finals of the Hall of Fame Doubles Challenge, a first of its kind amateur event that will feature local players from area tennis clubs competing on Center Court. That tournament will be followed by the finals of the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships, an ATP World Tour event being contested July 5 – 11.

“An exhibition match featuring the newest inductees to the International Tennis Hall of Fame on the historic grass courts that have hosted the game’s biggest stars since 1881 is a great way to top off induction weekend,” said Mark L. Stenning, CEO of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. “The match up of these legendary doubles stars playing together offers a once-in-a-lifetime match that tennis fans won’t want to miss.”

The exhibition will be a highlight of 2010 Hall of Fame Weekend, during which these four players will be among the seven newest inductees to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Since 1955, the game’s greatest champions, innovators, and contributors have been awarded induction to the International Tennis Hall of Fame, which is the highest honor available in tennis. When the Class of 2010 is inducted on July 10, the Hall of Fame will have recognized a total of 218 individuals from 19 countries.

Gigi Fernandez and Natasha Zvereva amassed an impressive 14 Grand Slam titles together. Their passion and skill on the court was remarkable, and it is hard to find a pair who showed as much enthusiasm and love for the game as these two outstanding players. They hold the second-longest Grand Slam doubles title streak in Open Era history, winning six in a row from the French Open in 1992 through Wimbledon in 1993. The pair also completed a non-calendar year Grand Slam that ran from the 1992 French Open to the 1993 Australian Open. Fernandez and Zvereva were named the WTA Doubles Team of the Year four times.

Mark Woodforde is one half of the legendary Australian duo known as “The Woodies.” The partnership of Todd Woodbridge and Woodforde, produced 61 ATP doubles titles, including 11 majors. The Woodies won two Olympic medals – doubles gold (1996) and doubles silver (2000). The duo was named ATP Top Doubles Team five times between 1992 and 2000. Mark Woodforde captured 67 doubles titles, four singles titles and five mixed doubles crowns. He held down the No. 1 doubles ranking for 84 weeks during his career, and held a singles ranking within the top 20.

Owen Davidson is a member of an elite group of just 13 people in tennis history who have won a calendar-year Grand Slam, which he earned in 1967, partnered with Lesley Turner Bowrey and Billie Jean King. His 15-year career is highlighted by 12 Grand Slam titles.

For additional information about the Hall of Fame Classic, call 866-914-FAME(3263) or visit tennisfame.com.