TENNIS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2014 INDUCTED TODAY. WHAT ON EARTH COULD HAVE TAKEN NICK BOLLETTIERI AND JOHN BARRETT SO LONG ?

Lindsay Davenport, Nick Bollettieri, Jane Brown Grimes,

John Barrett, Chantal Vandierendonck

ensrhined in International Tennis Hall of Fame

 

 

Former world No. 1 Lindsay Davenport, 5-time Paralympic champion Chantal Vandierendonck, legendary tennis coach Nick Bollettieri, tennis industry leader Jane Brown Grimes, and British tennis historian John Barrett were all presented the highest honor in tennis today – enshrinement in the International Tennis Hall of Fame. With thousands of cheering fans in the stands and perfectly pleasant summer weather, the Class of 2014 was celebrated in a grand ceremony on Center Court at Bill Talbert Stadium Court at the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum in Newport, R.I.

International Tennis Hall of Fame Class of 2014: Nick Bollettieri, Jane Brown Grimes, Lindsay Davenport, John Barrett, and Chantal Vandierendonck Photo by Kate Whitney Lucey

 

In addition to the new class of enshrinees, more than 15 Hall of Famers and many other great tennis personalities joined in the celebration. Chris Evert opened the ceremony with a speech to introduce Jane Brown Grimes.

 

Hall of Famer Brad Parks made a presentation speech as well, honoring Chantal Vandierendonck. Hall of Famer Angela Mortimer Barrett was also on the ceremony dais, looking on to see her husband John Barrett be enshrined. Lindsay Davenport , Nick Bollettieri by broadcaster Mary Carillo, and John Barrett by fellow journalist and historian Steve Flink. Tracy Austin, Monica Seles, Gigi Fernandez, Pam Shriver, Vic Seixas, Rosie Casals, Peachy Kellmeyer, Bud Collins, Dick Savitt, Donald Dell, Charlie Pasarell, and Owen Davidson were also all in attendance.

 

In presenting Brown Grimes, Evert remarked, “I can speak first hand to the fact that Jane’s skilled diplomacy was crucial to the survival of the WTA Tour as she was able to navigate the tricky waters of attracting and keeping desirable sponsorships while distancing our association with past relationships with controversial brands. It was a pivotal time for women’s tennis and it put us on a secure course for the future.”

 

 

Brown Grimes, who has been involved in tennis since the 1970s, spoke about the changes she has seen in the sport, and the role tennis has played in international relations, noting such moments like Martina Navratilova receiving a warm welcome from fans when she played Fed Cup in Prague as a newly minted U.S. citizen.

 

“There’s so many examples in this sport making room for tolerance and understanding in a world often torn by bitter conflict. So tennis has grown bigger and stronger and richer, but it has also done what Dwight Davis set out as a goal when he founded the Davis Cup in 1900, to promote goodwill internationally,” said Brown Grimes. “I feel so very lucky to have played a very small role in this amazing story, and to be recognized in this way today on this court in front of so many friends and family and tennis fans is more than I could ever have imagined.”

 

The ceremony was hosted by International Tennis Hall of Fame Chairman Christopher Clouser, who opened the event with a special honor for two longtime Hall of Fame leaders when he named CEO Mark Stenning and longtime supporter Ed Woolard as Life Trustees of the organization.

 

“The very highest honor and recognition that can be awarded to someone who serves the International Tennis Hall of Fame is the designation of life trustee. There are only 15 individuals who have ever been awarded this honor in our 60 year history. I am pleased on behalf of the Executive Committee to announce the appointment of two new life trustees,” said Clouser.

 

He then introduced the crowd to Ed Woolard, a longtime supporter who is now serving as Vice Chair of the Capital Campaign that is currently underway for major renovations and expansions to the property.

 

“Each of you may have seen over that the Hall of Fame is about to go under massive redevelopment. It’s a new tennis building, a new museum, and an improved center court. It all would not have happened, were it not for Ed’s dedication and leadership.”

 

In presenting the Life Trustee honor to Mark Stenning, Clouser remarked upon the many various aspects of the Hall of Fame that Stenning has been involved in over the past 35 years, including the Hall of Fame’s annual ATP World Tour event, the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships. He then invited last year’s champion Nico Mahut onto the court to present Stenning with the Life Trustee honor.

 

“He has done incredible work. When you look around here, you see what’s happened and is going to happen, it’s because of this gentleman,” said Clouser in reference to Stenning.

 

After Jane Brown Grimes’ portion of the ceremony, journalist Steve Flink stepped to the podium to present British tennis historian and journalist John Barrett for enshrinement.

 

“We all owe him a debt of gratitude for raising the profile of the game, for representing himself and tennis so honorably, and pursuing all of his endeavors with unwavering professionalism and enduring kindness,” said Flink, who first met John 40 years ago when Flink also an aspiring journalist who Barrett took under his wing.

 

At a press conference earlier in the day, Barrett commented, “Within each area that I worked, I’ve been able to throw myself into it with enthusiasm and enjoyed every part of it. I don’t think there’s any one moment that I would say gave me more pleasure than any other. I’ve just been so lucky. That’s what I tell everybody, I’m the luckiest man in the world. In the days I was broadcasting, I had the best seat in the house. I could comment about the game I loved from an early age and they actually paid me for it. What could be more wonderful than that?”

 

Class of 2010 Hall of Famer Brad Parks, who was the first wheelchair tennis player to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame then presented Chantal Vandierendonck, the first female wheelchair player to be inducted and the first ever player from the Netherlands. He recalled the awe that he and many colleagues always shared with regard to Vandierendonck’s skill and commitment to the sport.

 

“Wheelchair tennis brought so much to my life. The challenge to work on my tennis game, I just love to practice and see if all you work for will reveal in the matches. But it also helped me so much to deal with my life in a wheelchair. Being around all those active, young, independent, positive minded sports people showed me how great my life in a wheelchair still could be,” said Vandierendonck. “I’ve learned so much from all the other players and I’m grateful for that. I hope that with all I have learned I am able to inspire other people. I am deeply honored to receive this reward for my career.”

 

Legendary tennis coach Nick Bollettieri was presented for enshrinement by esteemed tennis broadcaster Mary Carillo, who kept the crowd entertained by inserting several Nick-isms and quotes of comments he’s told her into her speech.

 

“His energy defies belief. He believes in his vision, in his gut, in his students, in this sport. Even when they’re nine years old, he sees things and he believes,” said Carillo, of the man who has coached 10 players to world No. 1 status.

 

Bollettieri garnered applause and laughter from the crowd when he encouraged anyone who he’s ever yelled at on the court to stand up. Many guests, from those seated on center court to those in the top of the bleacher, instantly stood.

 

“There is really no way I could ever thank you enough for making my journey such a great one. Just know that I love you and I always yell at those I love the most. So you can expect to hear this old raspy voice hollering for many more years,” he said.

 

“I may not have been too good of a student, but I’ve always been pretty good with numbers. In fact, I guess you could say I’m a man of numbers. There’s 10 No. 1’s, nine lives, eight wives, seven amazing children, having a sixth sense, 5 a.m. the time for my first lesson, four beautiful grandchildren, three years of service to our country, two great parents, one passion, and zero, the number of books I read in my lifetime,” said Bollettieri.

 

The ceremony closed with the enshrinement of former world No. 1 Lindsay Davenport, who was introduced by her childhood friend and now Tennis Channel colleague, Justin Gimelstob.

 

“Our final inductee is someone I care very deeply about and respect very much. She personifies everything the International Tennis Hall of Fame is all about: excellence, class, professionalism, authentic performance and a deep respect for the game.”

 

Davenport, ever the humble champion, took in the enthusiastic support of the fans, and then thanked the coaches, colleagues, and friends and family who supported her over the years.

 

“To be up here on this stage and to share it with all the greatness that is up here is overwhelming. I was five years old when I first hit a tennis ball and a racquet was put in my hand. I never wanted to learn another sport and I still don’t. I loved playing this game. I never thought any of this would be possible. It always felt a little bit like an accident.This is an incredible honor for me, an amazing achievement. I will forever be humbled by this,” said Davenport.

 

 

The International Tennis Hall of Fame Class of 2014 will be honored in a tribute exhibit in the museum at the Hall of Fame for the year ahead. The exhibition features dynmaic photography of all the enshrinees, and artifacts such as all three of Davenport’s Grand Slam singles trophies, Bollettieri’s sunglasses, a chair that Vandierendonck used for playing tennis, imagery of Brown Grimes working alongside the sport’s greatest leades, several of Barrett’s books, and the white tennis balls that were in play at the 1980 Wimbledon final between Borg and McEnroe – for which Barrett did on-air commentary.

Hall of Famers

Photo by Kate Whitney Lucey 

 

About the Class of 2014

Click here for more detailed biographies on tennisfame.com.

 

Recent Player Category

Six-time Grand Slam tournament champion Lindsay Davenport held the world No. 1 ranking for 98 weeks. She was the year-end No. 1 four times, and is one of just six players to have held both the singles and doubles No. 1 ranking simultaneously. Davenport won three Grand Slam tournament singles titles, as well as three doubles titles. In all, she won an impressive 55 singles and 38 doubles titles, and she counts an Olympic Gold Medal from the 1996 Atlanta Games among her many accomplishments.

 

Recent Player Category, Wheelchair Tennis

Chantal Vandierendonck, of the Netherlands, was crowned the first ITF World Champion in 1991, a title she also clinched in 1996 and 1997. She won five Paralympic medals and seven singles titles at the US Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships. She was the world No. 1 player for a total of 136 weeks in singles, and also ranked world No. 1 in doubles. She was the first in a long line of top-ranked Dutch women in wheelchair tennis, and has taken an active role in helping grow the sport.

 

Contributor Category

John Barrett has been a leader in many areas of tennis, from broadcaster to tournament director, equipment representative to player. He is one of the sport’s premier historians and authors. For nearly 40 years, Barrett worked for Slazenger, ultimately holding the position of International Promotions Director for Tennis. He has produced some of the sport’s most comprehensive and interesting written works, including World of Tennis and Wimbledon – The Official History of the Championships. An accomplished broadcaster, he was the unmistakable “Voice of Wimbledon” on BBC from 1971-2006.

 

Legendary coach Nick Bollettieri has an unparalleled record of discovering and developing tennis champions. He coached 10 world No. 1 players including Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, Monica Seles, the Williams sisters, and Maria Sharapova. In 1978, he founded the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, the first tennis boarding school that integrated athletic training with academics, now known as IMG Academy. In addition to training elite professionals, Bollettieri has utilized tennis to create opportunities, including training collegiate athletes and developing youth tennis programs in underserved communities.

 

Jane Brown Grimes has selflessly dedicated her life to the growth of tennis around the world, having held leadership roles at the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum, the Women’s Tennis Association, and the United States Tennis Association. She has also actively served on several committees for the International Tennis Federation. Among her many contributions, Brown Grimes helped build a strong foundation for the Hall of Fame, and successfully led the WTA through a pivotal transition. She was at the helm of the USTA during a major period of growth, and oversaw successful US Opens and the launch of 10 & Under Tennis.

 

Editors note : the museum is worth the trip to beautiful old Newport ,Rhode Island

 

About the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum

Established in 1954, the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum is a non-profit institution dedicated to preserving the history of tennis, inspiring and encouraging junior tennis development, providing a landmark for tennis enthusiasts worldwide, and enshrining tennis heroes and heroines with the highest honor in the sport of tennis- induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. In 1986, the International Tennis Federation, the governing body of tennis, officially recognized the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum as the sport’s official Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is located in Newport, Rhode Island, USA, on a six-acre property that features an extensive museum chronicling the history of the sport and honoring the 240 Hall of Famers; 13 grass tennis courts and an indoor tennis facility that are open to the public and to a club membership; a rare Court Tennis facility; and an historic 297-seat theatre. Annually in July, the venue hosts the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships for the Van Alen Cup, an ATP World Tour event. The buildings and grounds, which were constructed in 1880 by McKim, Mead & White to serve as a social club for Newport’s summer residents, are renowned for their incredible architecture and preservation. The facility was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987. The Hall of Fame is supported by major sponsors including Rolex Watch U.S.A., Inc., American Express, EMC, Alex and Ani, Chubb Personal Insurance, Michelob ULTRA, and Carolyn’s Sakonnet Vineyards. For information on the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum and its programs, call 401-849-3990 or visit us online at www.tennisfame.com.

Topics: Chantal Vandierendonck, Chris Evert, Jane Brown Grimes, John Barrett, Lindsay Davenport, Nick Bollettieri, Nicolas Mahut, Tennis, Tennis Hall Of Fame, Tennis News

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