Newport's final edition as an ATP 250: The unique charm of a beloved event

When Marcos Giron defeated Alex Michelsen on Sunday in the Infosys Hall of Fame Open final, more than just this edition of the tournament came to an end. After launching in 1976, this was the last edition of the tournament as a tour-level event.

The Infosys Hall of Fame Open will remain on the calendar as an ATP Challenger Tour event, to be played alongside a WTA tournament of the same level in an exciting new setup. But nevertheless, this was the end of an era for the only professional tournament played on grass outside of Europe.

Two of the final three champions at the tournament were first-time ATP Tour titlists. In 2022, the serve-and-volleying standout Maxime Cressy rushed his way into the forecourt and lifted the trophy.

“Newport was extremely unique and meaningful to me because of the atmosphere that it was bringing near the ocean and the energy was just electric. It was such an amazing crowd, it was very respectful and a very entertaining crowd. They're very passionate about the sport and bring a lot of value into the beauty of our sport,” Cressy said. “It was extremely meaningful to win this tournament especially because it was the first ATP tournament that I envisioned winning. It was the first one I competed in and heard so many incredible things about this tournament and how unique it is. I really enjoyed myself there and looking forward to coming back hopefully next year for the Challenger event.”

The most famous grass-court event in the world is Wimbledon, and for nearly five decades players who enjoy the surface have been able to extend their stay on it for an extra week in Newport, where the first U.S. National Lawn Tennis Championship was played in 1881.

This year’s doubles winners, Sem Verbeek and Andre Goransson reflected on what it was like to compete at the historic venue, on the courts of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

“It's the surface first of all. We're both big grass fans. To have more grass after Wimbledon is always fun for us,” Verbeek said. “It feels very natural, the grass. It's meant a lot to me as well because it was my first ever ATP that I played here. And then to win it is obviously a very special sendoff for me. Thankfully, they're bringing professional tennis back, though. So it's not like this venue, the Hall of Fame will be empty for next year. But we're glad to be the last champions of the 250 here. That's cool.”

[ATP APP]

Goransson, who competed in Newport in the past two years, cracked a smile when thinking about the tournament’s grass courts.

“The grassiest grass,” Goransson said. “I would say it's the most traditional grass in the sense that I think it bounces the lowest. It's the fastest. There are great grass courts in the U.K. and all that but it's kind of gotten away from maybe the grass that was in the ‘80s and back then. I think this is the most traditional grass that can be really frustrating and really amazing at the same time. So that's what I mean by the grassiest grass.”

But Newport has been more than just a tennis tournament. It has been an experience for the players and their families.

The player hotel was just a five-minute walk from the venue. When you made that walk, it was common to run into players and coaches, who often stopped to say hello to locals who had attended the tennis that day.

Less than a 10-minute walk from the hotel was the harbour, where players and their teams spent beautiful evenings at dinner watching the sunset as sailboats returned to dock. Steve Johnson, the 2018 champion, spoke to the meaning of the event for the players.

“Newport is a very unique tournament. It has all the great feels of what a big tournament is supposed to be because of the Hall of Fame, because of the history and everything that goes with the tournament and for us Americans, it’s extremely special,” Johnson said. “It’s the last grass event of the year, a lot of us enjoy our time there. The city is phenomenal. It’s a great way to kick off the U.S. summer and everyone involved from the tournament directors, the staff, volunteers, it’s just a first-class organisation and a first-class event.”

The championship weekend also doubled as Induction Weekend, when legends of the sport were enshrined in the sport’s history books forever. Two of this year’s three International Tennis Hall of Fame inductees, Vijay Amritraj and Leander Paes, lifted both the singles and doubles trophies. Paes’ only singles triumph came in Rhode Island. Other champions include Greg Rusedski, Mark Philippoussis and Lleyton Hewitt.

Newport has also served as a launching pad for players’ careers. One year ago, Michelsen had never won a tour-level match, and as an 18-year-old he reached the final. This edition he also made the championship match.

“This tournament really started my career because I didn't know if I wasn't going to go to college or turn pro and once I got to the finals here last year, it kind of solidified me going pro. Being back here and playing this well again on that court over there is one of the best feelings ever,” Michelsen said. “The city is really nice. The courts really suit my game and the food is great here too, that helps.”

Giron is the rare American who did not play in Newport until age 30. He made the most of his appearance this year by capturing the crown.

“It's a great town that people actually did come here. I know Stevie [Johnson], Sam [Querrey], they'd bring their family and they were competing, but it was also in a way a little bit of a vacation week,” Giron said. “In a way it was very relaxing for them, and so I knew that it was going to be nice. But honestly, I didn't have any expectations. And sometimes it's better to have no expectations.

“It's too bad that it's not going to be a tour-level event anymore. But I'm really excited and honoured that I'm able to make it to the finals of the last event, the last tour event here in the Hall of Fame.”

[NEWSLETTER FORM]