Hall of Fame Open

Got FOMO about the grass courts of Wimbledon, wondering how you'll ever experience grass court tennis without flying to London? Good news. You're missing out on a gem hiding right here on the East Coast of the United States: the Hall of Fame Open, played on the historic grass of the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.

It used to be an ATP 250, and it's now a Challenger, an ATP 125, plus a WTA 125. So it went from a men's-only 250 to a mixed event, which honestly makes it even better. You get to see a lot of cool players up close and personal. A lot of the time, players who lose early at Wimbledon and want more reps head down to Newport to stay on the grass while they prep for the US summer swing.

I went last year not knowing what to expect, and it won me over fast. Watching tennis on grass resets your eye a little. We get hard court all year and a solid run of clay, but grass is its own thing: quicker, lower, a bit unpredictable, and watching players adapt to it is half the draw. Pair that with how small and relaxed the whole place feels, and it's an easy tournament to fall for.

It very much gives county fair. Small, walkable, and surprisingly full of young people. With tournaments like this you don't always see a young crowd, but I was struck by how many teenagers were just hanging around watching tennis. It had a real post-high-school, post-college hangout energy, alongside all the adults and older fans out enjoying the day.

Big tip before anything else: in Newport, parking is not a thing. It's genuinely hard to find, and there's very little right around the grounds, because the tournament sits smack in the middle of town. Plan to not drive right up to the gate.

My advice: just buy the cheapest ticket. The viewing from the cheapest seats, especially in the early rounds, is totally fine, and there's room to move around and find your spot. It's a relaxed tournament that way. There isn't really a grounds-only pass here, so your stadium seat is also your ticket to roam and catch everything on the outside courts. You can choose courtside seats, stand seats, or seats in the shade.

The setup is small and intimate. There's one main center court area, and here's the fascinating part: it actually holds two courts side by side. So early on you might have two matches going at once, and you basically watch whichever one you're closest to. Beyond that there are a few outside courts, and you can walk the whole place in under five minutes.

The outside courts surprise people. They're lined up in a row, and the viewing there is standing room only for the most part, so you're often looking across a court or two to see the match you actually came for, especially if it's in the middle of the row. There's a loose seating-ish area attached to the restaurant where people hang out, but no real official seating out there. It leans right into that county fair feeling: you wander, you drift between matches, you hang around. Part of the charm.

Early in the week the grounds are packed, singles and doubles running all at once, so there's always something to catch.

This was one of the best discoveries of the whole tournament. I'd heard about the Tennis Hall of Fame museum for years but didn't really know what to expect, and it's genuinely cool. Last year I got caught in a thunderstorm that rolled through and nearly wiped out a full day of play, so I ended up spending real time in the museum, and I was so glad I did.

There's so much to see. The Hall of Fame room has every inductee's name on the wall, so you can walk through all the players who've been enshrined. There's fashion from way back, old kits, old racquets. It's really worth it. And your tournament ticket includes museum admission, so you're basically getting a two for one.

Outside the clubhouse restaurant, there are tons of little food and drink carts all around the grounds. The best part: everything is tap to pay, so you don't have to carry cash. Expect the usual crowd-pleasers, plus a full bar.

Here's the one that saved my day. This tournament has no roof, so if it rains, tennis stops. But you're at the Tennis Hall of Fame, which has that museum inside, so a rain delay isn't a wasted day, it's your cue to go explore until play resumes.

Bring an empty reusable water bottle, for sure. They have a strict no-liquids policy. I brought a cup of coffee my first morning and had to ditch it at the gate. So come in empty and fill up inside. There's a bag policy too, which I've noted in Pack This, but always check their website for the full and current rules before you go.

The upside of the tournament being right in the middle of town is that Newport itself is yours to enjoy. There are shops and restaurants all around, so you can walk the city and make a proper day, or weekend, of it.

If you're coming from out of state like me, I drive up from New York. Last year I found an Airbnb close to the grounds, which I'd recommend. One heads up: this is high season for Newport. You're coming off the Fourth of July weekend and a lot of people still take this week off, so hotels and rentals in the area run more expensive than usual.

I've become a big Airbnb person since I started traveling for tournaments. Having a kitchen and a place that feels like home makes a multi-day trip so much more comfortable.

Grass, sun, and a coastal breeze. Pack light, because there's a one-bag limit and no storage on site. Tap each item as you sort it.

• An empty reusable bottle. No liquids come through the gate, so bring it empty and fill up at the stations inside.
• One small bag only. Max 18" x 15" x 12", and it will be searched at entry. There's no bag or stroller storage on site, so check the current bag policy before you go.
• Sunscreen and a hat. Grass-court seating is open, and July sun off the coast is no joke.
• A card or your phone to pay. The grounds run tap to pay, so you don't need cash.
• Comfortable shoes. You'll be walking the grounds and the museum, and standing courtside on the outer courts.