Roger Federer, the legendary Swiss tennis player, has been chosen to enter the International Tennis Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. The announcement was made this Wednesday by the institution based in Rhode Island.
Federer, who marked a golden era in tennis alongside Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, was the only candidate in the players category who received the necessary support for the class of 2026. The Hall of Fame does not reveal the results of the voting.
Journalist and television commentator Mary Carillo, also a former player, was elected in the contributors category. The induction ceremony will take place in August.
Federer, holder of eight titles at Wimbledon, six at the Australian Open, five at the US Open and one at Roland Garros, is one of the eight men who have managed to win all four Grand Slam tournaments.I have always valued the history of tennis and the example of those who came before me. Being recognized in this way by the sport and by my peers is deeply moving.
Roger Federer
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, after defeating Andy Roddick in an exciting match. Federer won his twentieth title at the 2018 Australian Open.I didn’t predict I would have so many majors. I was hoping to have maybe one, to be honest, at the beginning of my career.
Roger Federer
His impressive Grand Slam count was eventually surpassed by Nadal and Djokovic, who currently hold 22 and 24 titles, respectively. With his powerful right hand and serve, an offensive playing style and footwork that seemed effortless, Federer conquered 103 tournaments and 1,251 singles matches, figures only surpassed in the Open era by Jimmy Connors. Federer led the ATP ranking for five years, with a record of 237 consecutive weeks and a total of 310 weeks at the top. In addition, he led Switzerland to win the Davis Cup in 2014 and won a gold medal in doubles at the 2008 Olympic Games alongside Stan Wawrinka. Tennis ambassador, Federer communicated in English, French, and Swiss German in press conferences. His last match was at Wimbledon in 2021, about to turn 40 years old. The announcement of his retirement came the following year, saying goodbye by playing doubles alongside Nadal at the Laver Cup, an event founded by his management company. Federer became a role model for younger athletes like Carlos Alcaraz.I don’t really feel like I’m playing for records. I play this game because I love it.
Roger Federer
At his peak, Federer reached a record 10 consecutive Grand Slam finals between 2005 and 2007, winning eight of them. His dominance extended to 18 of 19 Grand Slam finals, and he also accumulated streaks of 23 semi-finals and 36 quarter-finals in major tournaments. Djokovic described those results as “not human”. 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.The elegance he has shown on the court, off it, how he treated people, everyone; a truly humble guy, everything he does, he does with elegance. I appreciate that. He took the game to another level… that’s what I admire most.
Carlos Alcaraz
In next year’s voting, Juan Martin del Potro and Svetlana Kuznetsova will be in the players’ category, while Serena Williams and Ashleigh Barty, who played their last matches in 2022, will be eligible for the Hall of Fame for the first time.I have had the privilege of spending my career sharing the stories of this magnificent game, and if I have opened any door along the way, it will make this August day even more significant.
Mary Carillo
