Roger Federer Headlines Tennis Hall of Fame Nominees
The legendary Swiss tennis player, Roger Federer, leads the list of nominees for the 2026 Class of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. His nomination marks a milestone in the recognition of a career that defined an era of greatness in the sport. Federer, recognized for his elegant game and dominance on the court, was the first man to reach 20 Grand Slam singles titles. His rivalry with figures like Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic marked a golden age for tennis. With an offensive game and a versatile style, Federer amassed 103 titles and 1,251 singles wins, figures only surpassed by Jimmy Connors in the Open era, which began in 1968. Federer, who reached the top of the ATP ranking for five seasons, held the first position for 237 consecutive weeks. In addition, he led Switzerland to victory in the 2014 Davis Cup and won a gold medal in doubles with Stan Wawrinka at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. During his prime, Federer reached ten consecutive Grand Slam finals between 2005 and 2007, winning eight titles in that period. His dominance extended to reaching 18 of 19 major finals until 2010. He also accumulated streaks of 36 consecutive quarter-finals and 23 consecutive semi-finals. Federer, a tennis ambassador, played his last match at Wimbledon in 2021, just before turning 40. His official retirement announcement came the following year, saying goodbye with a doubles appearance alongside Nadal at the Laver Cup, an event founded by his management company. Alongside Federer, in the player category, are Svetlana Kuznetsova, two-time Grand Slam singles champion, and Juan Martín del Potro, winner of the 2009 US Open. In the contributor category, Mary Carillo, television commentator, and Marshall Happer, administrator, are nominated. The names of the new Hall of Fame members will be announced in November. Federer is one of eight men with at least one singles title in each of the four most important tennis events, winning eight titles at Wimbledon, six at the Australian Open, five at the US Open, and one at the French Open, where he completed the career Grand Slam in 2009. His first major championship was at the All England Club in 2003. In 2009, he surpassed Pete Sampras’ record of 14 Grand Slam titles by winning Wimbledon, defeating Andy Roddick in a thrilling match. Federer was surpassed in the Grand Slam ranking by Nadal, who retired at 38 with 22 titles, and Djokovic, still active at 38 with 24.Federer’s streak of five consecutive US Opens, which no man has matched since, ended in the 2009 final with a five-set loss to del Potro. At that time, del Potro seemed destined for an elite career, but a series of wrist and knee injuries hampered his progress. Del Potro accumulated 22 titles at the tour level and reached number 3 in the ranking, reaching another Grand Slam final. He won a silver medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games and helped Argentina win the Davis Cup that same year. His last appearance in a major tournament was in the fourth round of the 2019 French Open. Kuznetsova won major singles titles at the 2004 US Open and the 2009 French Open, and in doubles at the 2005 and 2012 Australian Open. She reached number 2 in the WTA singles rankings and number 3 in doubles, and was part of three championships with Russia in the competition now known as the Billie Jean King Cup. Kuznetsova won 18 tour-level events in singles and 16 in doubles.“I always say it’s wonderful to be part of that select group,” Federer commented in 2021. “How can you compare? What is better? Winning when you’re old or when you’re young? I have no idea. Is it better to win on clay or grass? I don’t know. Is it better to have super dominant years or to come back from an injury? I don’t know. It really is impossible to understand.”
Roger Federer
