International Tennis Hall Of Fame Announces Presenters For The 2008 Induction Ceremony

Monica Seles and John McEnroe Will Take Part in Ceremony
NEWPORT, RI — The International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum has announced the presenters for this year’s Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. The official Induction Ceremony will take place on Saturday, July 12 at 12:30pm on Bill Talbert Stadium Court, at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island. As part of the ceremony, the role of the presenter is to introduce the new inductee by giving a formal speech, focusing on personal attributes and the professional career of the individual.
Presenting Michael Chang for Hall of Fame induction will be his brother, Carl Chang. Michael captured the 1989 singles title at Roland Garros and reached a career high world ranking of No. 2, ranking in the World Top 10 for seven years. He captured 34 singles titles while also reaching 24 tournament finals. He was a finalist at the 1996 Australian Open and a semifinalist in 1995 and 1997; in addition to his Roland Garros win in 1989, he also reached the French final in 1995 and the quarterfinals in 1990-91; his best result at Wimbledon was the quarterfinal in 1994; and at the US Open, he reached the final in 1996, the semifinals in 1992 and 1997, and the quarterfinals in 1993 and 1995. Carl played an important role in Michael’s career, serving as his coach, confidant and key support system throughout his 16-years on the ATP professional tennis tour.
Presenting contributor Mark McCormack (posthumously) for his induction will be nine-time Grand Slam singles champion Monica Seles. McCormack was a legendary sports executive and the founder of International Management Group (IMG). Most notably, he is known for literally inventing the field of sports marketing. In addition to being the world’s largest athlete representation firm, IMG also promotes, manages and owns hundreds of sporting events throughout the world. From representing a majority of top players in sports for over four decades, including Monica Seles, to pioneering television coverage globally, McCormack revolutionized the sporting world by establishing athlete representation as a distinct business discipline and by demonstrating the value of sports as a cost-effective marketing tool. In addition to being a sports client of IMG, Seles was a longtime personal friend of McCormack and his wife Betsy.
Presenting contributor Eugene L. Scott (posthumously) for his induction will be seven-time Grand Slam singles champion and 1999 Hall of Famer John McEnroe. Scott was a visionary who touched tennis at virtually every level for more than 40 years. He was a well-known player, writer, editor, publisher and entrepreneur, who influenced the visibility of tennis and created a positive public perception of the sport. Having authored more that 20 books on tennis, he was widely known as the founder (1974) and publisher of the national tennis magazine Tennis Week. Serving tennis from the grass roots novice to the professional players, Scott courageously took on the issues of tennis within the game’s power structure that ultimately led to his being dubbed “the conscience of tennis.” McEnroe and Scott were close friends throughout their careers, sharing the same intensity and passion for the sport of tennis.
The 2008 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony falls on the final weekend of the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships, played for the Van Alen Cup July 7-13. Current players who will play in Newport include Mardy Fish, John Isner, Kei Nishikori, Vince Spadea, Nicolas Mahut (Campbell’s 2007 finalist) and defending champion Fabrice Santoro. Played on the legendary courts of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum, the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships is the only ATP event played on grass in North America. On Saturday, July 12, the official Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place starting at 12:30pm, followed by the semifinal matches of the Campbell’s tournament at 2:00pm.
Tickets are on sale now for the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and all sessions of the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships. Tickets can be ordered online at  www.tennisfame.com .
Established in 1954, the International Tennis Hall of Fame is a non-profit institution dedicated to preserving the history of tennis, inspiring and encouraging junior tennis development, enshrining tennis heroes and heroines, and providing a landmark for tennis enthusiasts worldwide. The International Tennis Hall of Fame was recognized as the sport’s official Hall of Fame in 1986 by the International Tennis Federation, the governing body of tennis. For more information regarding the International Tennis Hall of Fame and its programs please visit our website at www.tennisfame.com.