Tennis and the Newport Casino (Images of Sports)

The birth of American tournament tennis began in 1881 when the Newport Casino hosted the first U.S. National Singles Championship (forerunner of the United States Open) and annually thereafter until 1915. Tournament tennis has been played here ever since, including the present-day Hall of Fame Tennis Championships, an event on the ATP World Tour. A National Historic Landmark, the Newport Casino today houses the world's most complete museum devoted to the sport of tennis and the history of the building. In addition, the site hosts the opening nights of the Newport Folk Festival and Jazz Festival, is home to the recently renovated Casino Theatre, has a court tennis facility, and serves as a destination for visitors worldwide.