Chris Evert, Butch Buchholz Inaugural Inductees in Orange Bowl Tennis HOF

The Orange Bowl Committee has named Chris Evert and Earl H. “Butch” Buchholz as the inaugural inductees of the Orange Bowl Tennis Hall of Fame. They were inducted in a ceremony on March 28 during the evening session of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium.

The Orange Bowl International Tennis Championships over the last 72 years has become one of the most prestigious junior tennis tournaments in the world, annually hosting youth who go on to reach the upper echelons of the ATP and WTA rankings.

Evert was a three-time winner of the event, capturing the 16-and-under girls’ title in 1968 and the 18-and-under crown in 1969-70. Buchholz won the 16-and-under boys’ title in 1954-55.

“The establishment of an Orange Bowl Tennis Hall of Fame is long overdue, and to be able to have two of the game’s all-time greats, who both also happen to be South Florida icons, as our first inductees is an incredible achievement,” said Jose C. Romano, president and chair of the Orange Bowl. “The Dolphins and Miami Open have created an incredible new home for the tournament at Hard Rock Stadium.”

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Buchholz founded what is now known as the Miami Open in 1985, and after retiring as a player also served as commissioner of World TeamTennis and executive director of the ATP World Tour.

Among those who have competed in the Orange Bowl International Tennis Championships are Andre Agassi, Arthur Ashe, Boris Becker, Bjorn Borg, Butch Buchholz, Jimmy Connors, Jim Courier, Stefan Edberg, Chris Evert, Roger Federer, Mary Joe Fernandez, Steffi Graf, Justine Henin, Ivan Lendl, Hana Mandlikova, Andy Roddick, Gabriela Sabatini, Monica Seles, Guillermo Vilas, and Mats Wilander.

The 2019 Orange Bowl International Tennis Championships will be held on the clay courts of the Frank Veltri Tennis Center in Plantation, Fla., from Dec. 9-15.

To read the full release or for more info to go www.orangebowl.org.