The International Tennis Hall of Fame (ITHF) has announced a new youth program, Be Legendary, to immerse young players aged 10-18 in tennis culture and learn from past greats.
ITHF is a non-profit organisation that "preserves the history of tennis and celebrates its champions to inspire excellence across generations globally."
It was founded in 2024 with the help of Kim Clijsters, Andre Agassi, Chris Evert, Arantxa-Sánchez Vicario, Martina Navratilova, Leander Paes, Vijay Amritraj, Rick Draney, Tracey Austin, Gigi Fernandez and Sam Smith.
It allows student-athletes to be exposed to a wide range of unforgettable experiences such as:
Engage with lessons centred around a Hall of Famer to learn what makes them legendary and how they exemplify tennis values on and off the court.
Meet the selected Hall of Famer and participate in a variety of tennis activities, including a circuit of tailored on-court drills and challenges.
Visit their local professional tennis tournament to engage with current stars of the sport.
There are currently 267 former players who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame, including former world No.1 and four-time major winner, Clijsters.
Clijsters is the president of ITHF, who has contributed enormously to helping the program initiative grow.
"Be Legendary was created by the ITHF to educate young players globally on both the history of the sport and the lessons learned by its legends," said Clijsters.
"Our goal is to do some good in the world, helping kids find their greatness by showing them what it means to be legendary, both on and off the court."
Moving forward, the hope is to inspire the next generation of emerging talents and ensure they understand the privileges and responsibilities of being at the top.
"At the ITHF, 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."
If you would like to learn more about the program, visit tennisfame.com/belegendary.
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