Here's why fans are coming to the 2022 Infosys Hall of Fame Open in Newport

Tourists are drawn to Newport for its beaches, sailing and restaurants. This week, there’s another attraction — the fan-friendly 2022 Infosys Hall of Fame Open.

With eight tennis players among the top 74 in the ATP rankings participating — including No. 9 Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada, two-time Wimbledon and US Open champion and Scotland native Andy Murray and four-time Newport tournament singles champion John Isner, who just ousted Murray from this year’s Wimbledon event — there’s certainly enough quality tennis being played to keep everyone engrossed.

As fans stroll the International Tennis Hall of Fame historic grounds in search of a beverage or a burger, there’s plenty else to do between matches. Or as one person standing inside the museum was overheard on his phone telling a friend: “You’ve got to come see this facility. The whole thing is amazing.”

Jim Clark of Rehoboth echoed the unknown caller’s sentiments.

“This is a great venue and it’s been around for a long time,” Clark said. “The history, the legacy — it’s nice to be a part of it. It’s awesome. It’s part of Newport so it’s a fantastic place to be.”

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Fan-friendly attractions

Laurie Quattrini of Greenville was one of the early arrivals to see the men’s singles quarterfinals on Thursday. Before heading to her seat, she stopped at an interactive booth inside the main entrance, grabbed a tennis racket and made a couple of serves to see what speed the radar gun would flash.

“Fifty-three — it was terrible,” Quattrini said. “I need sneakers and my racket. I’m coming back with my racket.

“This is great fun. It reminds me of the US Open in New York where you get to enjoy some of the fun things.”

Ten-year-old Raife McHale of Tennessee, who along with his parents, Gavin and Barbara, was attending the event for the first time, was disappointed with his serve.

“It was only 47,” Raife said.

Raife’s mom and dad said they wanted to see Isner and they loved to see Steve Johnson. But the main reason for the parents to travel to the event, Barbara McHale said: “We’ve never been to a grass tournament. We’re super excited."

Right next to the serving booth was a golf chipping game. Guests chip golf balls at elevated targets and try to knock them down. A similar activity took place in the third booth, where attendees got to volley tennis balls at oversized tennis balls in an attempt to knock them off their perch.

“The different activities you can do, that was nice,” Clark said. “It seems like there’s some interest in it. I didn’t have to wait in a long line, which was nice. It’s always good to have different activities.”

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The fan-friendly booths were new this year and Quattrini thought they were a good addition.

“They’re doing a great job; they’ve made a lot of changes,” Quattrini said. “I’m sure they’ve gotten a lot of criticism from people that [wanted to keep things the way they’ve been].

“But they’re doing a really good job every year of taking some criticism, taking some information they get and tweaking it. I think they are really doing a great job this year.”

East Greenwich resident Pam Dodman, whose children are working as tournament ball boys, concurred with Quattrini.

“I think it’s great. They’ve really upped their game,” Dodman said. “They added stuff to make it more attractive to the fans. They’re very player-oriented as well as making sure all the players are taken care of. Their attention to detail, I think, has been great.”

Museum remains a draw

Some fans relaxed in cushioned chairs in the horseshoe piazza while others around them played cornhole. And when it got too hot, as it did on Thursday, tennis aficionados seeking air conditioning to counteract the muggy July air simply walked upstairs and into the museum.

Ryan Griffiths of North Haven, Conn., who traded shots with former International Tennis Hall of Fame CEO Todd Martin at a tennis clinic more than a decade ago, was at Thursday’s matches with his parents. The family enjoys the museum.

“We used to go once a year pretty much,” Griffiths said. “We love it. Watching Don Budge and all those guys is fascinating.”

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“I love little things like the cans of tennis balls that take up the whole wall,” Mr. Griffiths said. “And the progression and the history of the sport is something I’ve always loved about tennis.”

Some of the younger fans checking out the museum particularly liked the "You call the Shot" exhibit. A large screen on the wall shows a famous tennis moment and the fan gives his personal call of the event over a live microphone. The two preteens sharing the microphone, who must have seen a "Shrek" rerun recently, instead began singing Rufus Wainwright’s version of "Hallelujah."

Just the right fit

Back outside on the pristine grass courts, the players continued to entertain on the stadium court and the crowd roared its approval. Spectators had unobstructed views of Murray and others tuning up for their matches on practice courts.

Dodman, after snapping a picture of her children, was there soaking it all in.

“It’s so nice to be so close to the players,” Dodman said. “It makes it really special and it’s very unique because not many tournaments can you get that close. I would think as a player it would be great to play here because there’s so much history and playing on grass is great. It’s so nice on your body.”

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Quattrini attended her first tennis tournament on the Newport grounds 21 years ago. And she will continue to come back.

“I was 30 years old and had just taken up the sport,” Quattrini said. “I’d been to Newport a hundred times and never been to this area.

“When I walked in, it was like the gods opened up. It feels so right, really. I feel that way every year when we come.

“It is very intimate. Much more intimate than any other place we’ve been to to watch tennis. I always encourage everybody that I know to come here. Unless you come here, you don’t know.”

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: 2022 Infosys Hall of Fame Open draws crowds to Newport