Newport Welcomes Andre Agassi with Hall of Fame Induction Saturday, Exhibition Match Sunday

Andre Agassi, who captured eight grand slam tournament titles, an Olympic gold medal, and the hearts of countless fans worldwide, will be presented the highest honor in the sport of tennis this weekend, induction to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Agassi is the sole inductee in the Recent Player category. In the Contributor Category, Fern Lee "Peachy" Kellmeyer will be inducted. Kellmeyer is a tennis industry executive who was hired as the very first employee of the WTA Tour in 1973 and is still dedicated to the growth and development of the sport today. The Induction Ceremony will take place at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I. on Saturday, July 9 at 12 pm. It will be broadcast live on Tennis Channel.

"Andre Agassi and Peachy Kellmeyer have achieved extraordinary success in their tennis careers, while improving the lives of so many. Through their determination and commitment they have made the sport of tennis better and have had an immensely positive impact on the world. We are very pleased to recognize their hard work and great accomplishments with the highest honor in tennis- induction to the International Tennis Hall of Fame," said Christopher Clouser, chairman of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum. "The Induction Ceremony will be an extraordinary day and we look forward to sharing it with their families, friends and many fans- those attending the ceremony and those following the festivities on television around the world."

The Induction Ceremony will feature speeches by the inductees, as well as presentation speeches by people they have selected. Stacey Allaster, Chairman and CEO of the WTA, will give Kellmeyer's presentation speech. Agassi's presenter will be revealed at the event.

The Induction Ceremony will be attended by special guests of the inductees, including Agassi's coaches and trainer from throughout his career, other Hall of Famers and tennis legends, and more than 3,500 enthusiastic fans. Tickets for the ceremony are now sold out, but a limited number of tickets are available for a live simulcast, which will be shown on a giant, stage-sized screen in the newly restored, air-conditioned Casino Theatre at the International Tennis Hall of Fame. The simulcast festivities will kick off with never-before-seen tribute videos, compiled from footage of great career moments and messages of congratulations from colleagues and friends. Following the ceremony, Agassi and Kellmeyer will visit with the audience for their first interviews after induction. Tickets for this event are $75 and may be purchased on tennisfame.com or by calling 401-849-6053.

Since 1955, the International Tennis Hall of Fame has honored 220 people representing 19 countries, inclusive of the Class of 2011. The International Tennis Hall of Fame features a comprehensive tennis Museum that commemorates the greatest champions and contributors of the sport and chronicles the history of tennis from its 12th century beginnings through present day. Special exhibits paying tribute to the Hall of Fame Class of 2011 have recently been installed and will be showcased for one year.

In Andre Agassi: From Changing the Game to Changing Lives, visitors are treated to dynamic, colorful photos showcasing some of the most exciting and emotional moments of Agassi's tennis career, as well as imagery of his work since retirement- namely, the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy. Additionally, the exhibit features a collection of memorabilia ranging from memorable tennis apparel to tennis trophies, along with a video reel of career highlights. The exhibit is displayed in the Atrium Gallery.

In the Billie Jean King WTA Gallery, Peachy Kellmeyer: The Soul of Women's Tennis highlights the inspiring story of the woman who dedicated her life to growing women's professional tennis from its humble beginnings to the popular, global sport the world enjoys today. The exhibit highlights notable moments in the history of women's tennis, and features photos of Peachy with the women she has worked closely with for more than 35 years- such as Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova.

The Induction Ceremony

On Saturday, July 9 at 11:45 a.m. the Hall of Fame will host a live simulcast of the Induction Ceremony, featuring a visit from Agassi and fellow inductee Peachy Kellmeyer immediately after the ceremony for their first interviews after Induction.

The Induction Ceremony will be streamed live on a giant, stage-sized screen in the newly restored and air-conditioned Casino Theatre at the International Tennis Hall of Fame, an intimate 300-seat venue.

The festivities will kick off with never-before-seen tribute videos, compiled from footage of great career moments and messages of congratulations from colleagues and friends. All guests will receive a commemorative event program, and tickets to visit the Museum after the ceremony to view special tribute exhibits showcasing the lives and careers of the new inductees. The simulcast offers an exclusive opportunity to be part of the inductees first interviews after induction and it is a great opportunity for fans who did not get Induction Ceremony tickets, or who may prefer to be in a shaded, air-conditioned venue to watch this great moment in tennis history. Tickets are $75.

Agassi Exhibition Match

On Sunday, July 10 at 10 a.m. fans will have the rare opportunity to see Agassi in action once again, when he takes to the Hall of Fame grass courts for the Hall of Fame Classic Exhibition Match. Also playing with Andre will be former ATP World Tour star Todd Martin, who was a top-10 player on the Tour at the same time as Agassi. The two players faced off 18 times during their career, with Agassi taking 13 wins. Additional players for the exhibition match will be announced shortly. Tickets are $35, $40 and $45.

After the exhibition, fans are invited to enjoy a luncheon and tennis talk with legendary Hall of Famers in the Brooks Brothers Lunch with Legends. Hall of Famers from a variety of backgrounds including great champions, in-the-know journalists and tennis industry administrators and pioneers will join fans for a luncheon and to share some of their favorite tennis stories, discuss current news of the game and take questions from the audience. The luncheon begins at 12 pm. Tickets are $75.

Finals

Plus, the tennis action doesn't stop on Sunday after lunch. The singles and doubles finals of the Campbell's Hall of Fame Tennis Championships, the only ATP World Tour event in the Northeast, will begin at 2 p.m. Fans can anticipate great tennis action on the final day as the player field features some of the most exciting players on the ATP World Tour - No. 3 American and 2009 Newport finalist Sam Querrey, former world No. 2 Tommy Haas, who is currently on a comeback trail, the world's fastest server, Ivo Karlovic, and up and coming stars Ryan Harrison, Ryan Sweeting and Grigor Dimitrov. 

Tickets

Tickets for all Hall of Fame Weekend events and the Campbell's Hall of Fame Tennis Championships may be purchased on www.tennisfame.com or by calling 866-914-FAME (3263).