Richard Cutler, a former tennis player and enthusiast, said he has one of the largest private collections of tennis memorabilia in the nation, with over 200 racquets signed by legendary players of the past and present, as well as signed tennis balls, shoes, towels, hats and photographs.

Now, that private collection is on display for the public at the new Richard Cutler Tenniseum.

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According to an Aug. 14 news release, Cutler's collectibles have been acquired over a span of 25 years, and the museum exhibit showcases the journey of tennis from its inception in 1873 to today.

Along the walls, guests of the museum will also see collections of racquets that were personally owned by popular tennis players and used in major tournaments such as the Olympics, including big names like Pete Sampras, Andrew Agassi, Billie Jean King, John McEnroe and Serena Williams.

"Mr. Cutler's gallery takes you on everyone’s journey starting from the big tennis names that make America proud," the news release states. "Then it transports you to exciting settings like Switzerland with Roger Federer to Spain with Rafael Nadal and to Serbia with Novak Djokovic. It carries you further to far-flung travels to Belgium, Germany, Russia and Australia."Something to note

The museum is located at the gallery on the second floor of Tennis Express, a sporting goods store that sells tennis apparel and gear.

“I want to thank Brad Blume and his team at Tennis Express for hosting this tennis collection for public view,” Richard Cutler said in the release. “This collection needs to be seen to be truly appreciated by tennis aficionados and fans.”

Officials with the museum held a soft opening in July, but are planning a grand opening celebration in December, with more details expected in the near future.

The tenniseum is available to visit free of charge and is open during business hours and on Saturdays and Sundays from 1-5 p.m.

• Opened in July
• 10771 West Park Drive, Houston