Defending champion Rajeev Ram beat fellow American Mackenzie McDonald, 6-2, 6-3, in the opening round of the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships here Monday. Ram, a two-time winner on Newport's grass courts — also in 2009 when he won his only other ATP title — needed just 65 minutes to get past the 21-year-old McDonald. The 32-year-old Ram said he enjoys coming back to Newport. "For me, yeah, I've won two titles, they've both been here," he said. "I've played here every year since I've been a pro. A lot of things make it really special." After last year's event, wooden bleachers at center court behind the south baseline were replaced by stadium seats. An electronic scoreboard was installed, which gave the players the option of challenging calls for the first time at the tournament, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary. In other first-round play, No. 8 seed Donald Young beat fellow American Jared Donaldson, 6-1, 6-3; Dudi Sela of Israel ousted Lukas Lacko of Slovakia, 6-3, 6-2; and Marco Chiudinelli of Switzerland advanced when fifth-seeded Vasek Pospisil of Canada withdrew with a back injury. The Hall of Fame Championships are played in conjunction with induction ceremonies into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Justine Henin, a former WTA world No. 1 and seven-time major champion, and Marat Safin, a two-time major and former world No. 1, are scheduled to be enshrined Saturday during a center-court ceremony. Amelie Mauresmo, who was enshrined last year but missed the ceremony for the birth of her son, is also scheduled to be on hand.
