Eight top collegiate men’s and women’s teams to play in this unique tournament on September 15-17; free and open to the public.
The International Tennis Hall of Fame has teamed up with the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) to host the Hall of Fame ITA Grass Court Invitational on September 15 – 17 for the second consecutive year. Consisting of eight NCAA Division 1 tennis teams who will compete on the grass courts of the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, the tournament will be free of charge and open to the public, providing a great opportunity for fans to see high-caliber, competitive tennis.
“At the International Tennis Hall of Fame, we are excited to host the 2017 Hall of Fame ITA Grass Court Invitational. This tournament provides a great opportunity to promote the sport’s rich history and inspire the next generation of tennis stars,” said ITHF CEO Todd Martin. “We have an accomplished collection of teams coming to Newport and the student-athletes are some of the best in the nation. Additionally, the players will be vying for wildcards into professional tennis events. The men’s winner will earn the right to compete in the 2018 Dell Technologies Hall of Fame Open and the women’s winner will earn a spot in a $25,000 USTA Pro Circuit event. With elite level tennis being played at our historic venue and a great museum to explore, the tournament weekend is the perfect time for aspiring young players, not to mention all tennis fans, to visit the Hall of Fame.”
Eight teams (4 women’s and 4 men’s) will compete in a flighted singles and doubles round robin format, playing for individual ITA Ranking Points. In addition to the ranking points, the student-athletes will be competing for some great future playing opportunities. The winner of the men’s draw will earn a wild card into the Main Draw of the 2018 Dell Technologies Hall of Fame Open, which is an ATP World Tour 250 event played at the Hall of Fame annually in July. The men’s finalist will earn an entry into the Qualifying Draw of that tournament. The women’s teams will be playing for a big opportunity as well, with the champion earning an entry into Main Draw of a $25,000-level USTA Pro Circuit event, which is the national tour that players with an opportunity to gain the professional ranking points they need to compete on the major pro tours. The women’s finalist will earn entry into a Qualifying Round of a $25,000-level USTA Pro Circuit event.
Following is a list of participating teams, listed with their national ITA ranking, based on the standings at the end of the 2016-2017 seasons.
Men’s Teams:
University of Georgia, No. 7
TCU, No. 8
University of Illinois, No. 20
Columbia, No. 25
Women’s Teams:
University of Florida, No. 1 (2017 Champions)
University of North Carolina, No. 5
Louisiana State University, No. 21
Princeton University
“The Intercollegiate Tennis Association is honored to once again work alongside the International Tennis Hall of Fame staff to present what promises to be a great 2017 Hall of Fame ITA Grass Court Invitational,” said ITA Chief Executive Officer Timothy Russell. “The International Tennis Hall of Fame is a special venue that holds great prestige in our sport worldwide. I am particularly excited that our student- athletes will have the opportunity to learn more about tennis and participate in this unique opportunity. I’d like to thank Todd Martin for his on-going commitment to supporting and showcasing college tennis on this very special stage.”
Matches will be played on the historic Bill Talbert Stadium Court and on the additional grass courts at the Hall of Fame, all of which have hosted many of the sport’s greatest tennis legends over the years.
The Hall of Fame ITA Grass Court Invitational will be held September 15 – 17 at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island. The event is free of charge and open to the public, providing a great opportunity for fans to see high caliber competitive tennis. During the event days, admission to the museum at the International Tennis Hall of Fame will be reduced to $8 from the standard $15, making it a great time for tennis fans to visit. Admission to the museum for kids ages 16 & under is always free.
For additional information, please visit www.tennisfame.com
