Rising American Star Ryan Harrison to Compete at Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport
Ryan Harrison, the 18-year-old sensation from Louisiana who defeated three top-50 players at the BNP Paribas Open this week at Indian Wells before losing to Roger Federer, will compete in the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport, R.I., July 4-10, 2011.
At this week’s BNP Paribas Open, Harrison overcame another rising star, 20-year-old Canadian Milos Raonic in a three-set match that could be an early indicator of the next great tennis rivalry, to advance to the fourth round in Indian Wells. Harrison, who was a wild card entry at the tournament, faced Roger Federer in the fourth round and took the world’s numbver two-ranked player to a tie-break in the first set, before Federer claimed victory, 7-6(4), 6-3. Following his success at Indian Wells, it is anticipated that Harrison’s South African Airways ATP World Tour Ranking will jump from 152nd to near the 130 mark.
"As a wild card in Newport last year, Ryan advanced to the quarterfinals and he has consistently posted some outstanding results since then," said Mark L. Stenning, tournament director of the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships. "Ryan is definitely a player on the move and one to watch. We know our fans will enjoy seeing him compete and we look forward to welcoming him back to Newport again this summer."
This year will be Harrison’s second appearance in Newport, where he advanced to the quarterfinals last year—his best ATP World Tour result to date at the time. Since that appearance, Harrison has recorded significant victories, including defeating then number 17th-ranked Ivan Ljubicic in the first round of the 2010 U.S. Open. Harrison has gotten off to a strong start in 2011, as well. Earlier in the year, he captured both the singles and doubles titles at the Honolulu Challenger. Prior to falling to Federer at Indian Wells, Harrison defeated number 49 Jeremy Chardy, number 25 Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, and the number 37th-ranked Raonic.
The Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships immediately follows Wimbledon, draws 32 top ATP World Tour players and is hosted on the historic grass courts of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. A highlight of the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships will be the International Tennis Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, which will be held on Saturday, July 9 at noon, prior to the tournament’s semifinal matches. Andre Agassi, former world number one, eight-time grand slam champion, and one of the most revered athletes in history is the sole inductee in the Recent Player Category. In the Contributor Category, Peachy Kellmeyer, who was the very first employee and director of the WTA in 1973 and still serves the organization today, will be inducted for her immense contributions in the development of women’s tennis. Additionally, a variety of special events including Family Weekend, free tennis lessons, and the Angela Moore Fashion Show will complement another exciting week of ATP World Tour tennis.
