Federer Enters the Tennis Hall of Fame: Legend of the Sport.

Roger Federer Immortalized in the Tennis Hall of Fame

In a recognition that surprises no one, Roger Federer has been chosen to enter the International Tennis Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. The news was announced on Wednesday by the institution based in Rhode Island. Federer, the first man to win 20 Grand Slam singles titles, was part of a golden era of tennis alongside his rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. He was the only candidate in the players category who received the necessary support for the Hall of Fame Class of 2026. The institution does not reveal the voting results. Television commentator and journalist Mary Carillo was also chosen, but in the contributors category. The induction ceremony is scheduled for August.

Roger Federer was the first man to win 20 Grand Slam singles titles, a number later surpassed by his rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. His last match was at Wimbledon in 2021.Federer expressed his gratitude and humility for this recognition, highlighting his appreciation for the history of tennis and the example of those who came before him. Throughout his career, Federer won eight championships at Wimbledon, six at the Australian Open, five at the US Open, and one at the French Open. In an interview, the tennis player confessed that at the beginning of his career he only hoped to win one Grand Slam title. His first Grand Slam title came at the All England Club in 2003. In 2009, he surpassed Pete Sampras’ record of 14 major titles by winning Wimbledon, defeating Andy Roddick. Federer achieved his twentieth Grand Slam at the 2018 Australian Open.

I don’t play for records, I play this sport because I love it.

Roger Federer

His impressive Grand Slam count was surpassed by Nadal and Djokovic, who currently have 22 and 24 titles respectively. With a game characterized by a powerful backhand and serve, an all-court attacking style and seemingly effortless footwork, Federer won 103 tournaments and 1,251 singles matches. These numbers are only surpassed by Jimmy Connors in the Open era, which began in 1968. Federer finished five years at number 1 in the ATP ranking, setting a record of 237 consecutive weeks and a total of 310 at the top. He led Switzerland to the Davis Cup title in 2014 and won a gold medal in doubles with Stan Wawrinka at the 2008 Olympic Games. Tennis ambassador, Federer played his last match at Wimbledon in 2021, about to turn 40 years old. His retirement announcement came the following year, saying goodbye by playing doubles alongside Nadal at the Laver Cup, an event founded by Federer’s management company. Federer became a role model for young athletes like Carlos Alcaraz, current number 1, who admires his elegance and humility, highlighting how Federer elevated tennis to another level. At his peak, Federer reached a record 10 consecutive Grand Slam finals between 2005 and 2007, winning eight. In addition, he participated in 18 of 19 Grand Slam finals and established streaks of 23 semi-finals and 36 quarter-finals in major tournaments. According to the Hall of Fame, Carillo was the first woman to regularly comment on tennis broadcasts and was a correspondent for HBO’s “Real Sports.” She won six Emmy Awards and three Peabody Awards, and was inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2018.

I’ve had the privilege of spending my career sharing the stories of this magnificent game, and if I’ve opened any doors along the way, it will make this August day even more significant.

Mary Carillo

In the next vote, Juan Martín del Potro and Svetlana Kuznetsova will be on the list of eligible players again, while Serena Williams and Ashleigh Barty, who played their last matches in 2022, will be eligible for the first time.