International Tennis Hall of Fame launches “Be Legendary” youth program in Melbourne, Indian Wells and Miami

Kim Clijsters, Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario and the Bryan brothers are the first of many Hall of Famers to participate in this global initiative.

ByLiya Davidov

Published Dec 05, 2024

Be Legendary: What it is, and where it's going

Leander Paes took part in one of the first 'Be Legendary' clinics this past July in Newport. The initiative will teach the rich history of tennis, provide memorable experiences with Hall of Famers and current tennis stars, and showcase what it means to Be Legendary.

Honorary President and fellow Hall of Famer Kim Clijsters also participated.

This program is designed to immerse young players ages 10 – 18 in the rich history of tennis, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and sharing the inspiring stories of legendary players who triumphed over adversity to achieve greatness.

Through these unforgettable Hall of Fame encounters, participants will experience the incredible possibilities that can arise from hard work, dedication, and a passion for tennis and sport.

At each Be Legendary site visit, student-athletes from local youth tennis programs will: 1) Engage with lessons centered around a Hall of Famer to learn what makes them legendary and how they exemplify tennis values on and off the court.

2) Meet the selected Hall of Famer and participate in a variety of tennis activities, including a circuit of tailored on-court drills and challenges.

3) Visit their local professional tennis tournament to engage with current stars of the sport.

To start the year, Be Legendary will launch in Melbourne, Indian Wells and Miami. Hall of Famers scheduled to participate include Kim Clijsters, Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario and 2025 Inductees Mike and Bob Bryan, and Rosie Casals, among others.

Be Legendary was piloted in 2024 with participation from Clijsters, Sánchez-Vicario, Andre Agassi, Chris Evert, Leander Paes, Martina Navratilova, Vijay Amritraj, Rick Draney, Tracy Austin, Gigi Fernandez, and Stan Smith. Students in the pilot program had the opportunity to study the inspiring stories of each of these Hall of Famers and then spend time with them in person, via Q & A sessions, one-on-one conversations and tennis programming.

Be Legendary programming will culminate with a “Legendary Weekend in Newport,” where outstanding participants selected from each youth organization will participate in a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Newport, Rhode Island to visit the International Tennis Hall of Fame during the 2025 Induction Celebration.

“At the International Tennis Hall of Fame, we believe the ability to be legendary lives in each of us,” said ITHF CEO Dan Faber. “That’s why we created this program - to leverage our platform in tennis to positively impact the lives of the next generation.

“By promoting the history of our sport, celebrating the champions who have paved the way, and providing memorable experiences, we can carry forward the legacy of tennis and deliver lasting impact that goes beyond the court.”

To get involved or learn more about the Be Legendary program visit tennisfame.com/belegendary.

The International Tennis Hall of Fame is taking its rich history and using it to propel the next generation of the sport.

For players ages 10-18, the ITHOF's “Be Legendary” youth program offers an opportunity to develop one's tennis beyond traditional coaching, by introducing connections into the sport’s rich history, greatness and values that transcend the dimensions of the court.

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Introducing Be Legendary: a global youth program by the International Tennis Hall of Fame 🎾#BeLegendary will engage kids ages 10-18 at local youth tennis organizations around the world through a two-day activation that provides value-based curriculum, dynamic interactions with… pic.twitter.com/L6umECwHLl
— International Tennis Hall of Fame (@TennisHalloFame) November 14, 2024

“The Hall of Fame exists on a belief that the past must be respected, celebrated, and cherished, because that is where greatness is found,” says ITHOF honorary president and Hall of Famer Kim Clijsters.

A belief we can use the past, the legends of the game, and the values that the sport instills in us to not only impact lives, but to inspire greatness in the next generation.

Focusing on interactive history curriculum, each stop on the Be Legendary tour will include Hall of Famer visits and in-person experiences, and field trips to professional tournaments. The campaign is structured to leave a lasting impression of tennis and beyond on the participants, especially for standout players who will earn a trip to Newport, R.I., for the 2025 induction ceremony.

This year's ceremony, which will see the enshrinements of Bob Bryan, Mike Bryan and Maria Sharapova, will be held from August 21-23.

Kim Clijsters hit the Newport courts in July as part of the Be Legendary pilot program.

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Set to launch in Melbourne, Indian Wells and Miami, the ITHOF promises more locations to be announced as the program gets underway. The same goes for ambassadors, who will join Clijsters, the Bryans and Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario.

“In recognizing the past, we lay the foundation for the future to infuse a deeper love of the game in everything we do,” says Clijsters, “and to propel the next generation to believe that this sport can teach them to lead both on the court and off.”

The Hall of Fame is using tennis history to build the sport's future.

The Big Four

The Be Legendary program is built upon four pillars that each venue—Melbourne, Indian Wells and Miami, with more to come—can uniquely offer:

INTERACTIVE HISTORY LESSON AND CURRICULUM: Through a professionally developed curriculum, youth participants will delve into the history of tennis and the careers and personal attributes of Tennis Hall of Fame Inductees. They will explore what makes these athletes legendary, gaining insights into the perseverance, discipline, and character that define their success.
HALL OF FAMER VISIT AND IN-PERSON TENNIS EXPERIENCE: Each program culminates in a two-day immersive experience where student-athletes engage with historical tennis artifacts and meet and interact with a Hall of Famer. This curated experience includes on- and off-court activities, providing a unique opportunity for youth to learn directly from the Legend. These activities are designed to reinforce the core values of tennis, allowing students to witness these traits in action and consider how they are reflected in their own lives.
FIELD TRIP TO PROFESSIONAL TENNIS TOURNAMENT: After interacting with the Hall of Famer, participants will attend a local professional tournament. This experience exposes them to high-level competition and allows them to see the skills and values discussed in action on the world stage.
CULMINATING WEEKEND AT THE INTERNATIONAL TENNIS HALL OF FAME: After the program, two exceptional students and a chaperone will be selected to visit the International Tennis Hall of Fame. This visit will be a capstone experience, providing an in-depth exploration of the sport’s history and the legacy of its greatest players.

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