This will come as no shock to anybody who has paid any consideration over the previous quarter-century: Roger Federer was elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in his first 12 months of eligibility, the Rhode Island-based Hall introduced Wednesday.
The first man to win 20 Grand Slam singles titles, and a part of an period of unprecedented greatness with rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic — throughout what Federer termed “a golden time for tennis” — he was the one candidate to obtain sufficient help within the participant class for the Hall’s Class of 2026. The Hall doesn’t reveal voting outcomes.
TV announcer and journalist Mary Carillo, who additionally was a participant, was elected within the contributor class. The induction ceremony is in August.
“I’ve all the time valued the historical past of tennis and the instance set by those that got here earlier than me,” Federer mentioned. “To be acknowledged on this method by the game and by my friends is deeply humbling.”
He is one in every of eight males with a profession Grand Slam, gathering eight championships at Wimbledon, six on the Australian Open, 5 on the US Open and one on the French Open.
“I did not predict I used to be going to have this many majors,” Federer as soon as mentioned in an interview with The Associated Press. “I hoped to possibly have one, to be fairly trustworthy, on the very starting of my profession.”
Federer’s first Slam title got here on the All England Club in 2003, and he broke Pete Sampras’ then-record for a person of 14 main titles by successful Wimbledon in 2009, defeating Andy Roddick 16-14 within the fifth set of the ultimate. Federer claimed his twentieth Grand Slam on the 2018 Australian Open.
“I do not actually really feel like I’m enjoying for the information,” Federer as soon as instructed the AP. “I play this recreation as a result of I adore it.”
His Grand Slam rely finally was surpassed by Nadal, who acquired to 22 earlier than retiring final 12 months at age 38, and Djokovic, who has 24 and remains to be energetic at 38.
With a terrific forehand and serve, an attacking, all-court type, and footwork that made all the things appear so easy, Federer received 103 tournaments and 1,251 matches in singles — totals eclipsed within the males’s recreation solely by Jimmy Connors within the Open period, which started in 1968.
Federer completed 5 years at No. 1 within the ATP rankings, spent a file 237 consecutive weeks and a complete of 310 within the prime spot, led Switzerland to the 2014 Davis Cup title, and teamed with Stan Wawrinka for a doubles gold medal on the 2008 Olympics.
An ambassador for the sport who typically answered questions in English, French and Swiss German at information conferences, Federer performed his final match at Wimbledon in 2021. He was a month shy of 40 on the time.
His retirement announcement got here the next 12 months; he bid farewell by enjoying doubles alongside Nadal on the Laver Cup, an occasion Federer’s administration firm based.
Along the way in which, Federer established himself as a mannequin for youthful athletes resembling Carlos Alcaraz, 22, the present No. 1 who owns six Slam trophies.
“The magnificence he has proven on court docket, off the court docket — how he handled folks, everybody; a extremely humble man — all the things he does, he does with magnificence,” Alcaraz mentioned. “I respect that. He took the sport to a different stage. … That’s what I like probably the most.”
At the peak of his powers, Federer reached a file 10 consecutive Grand Slam finals from 2005 to 2007, successful eight. That dominance prolonged to showing in 18 of 19 Slam finals; he additionally put collectively streaks of 23 semifinals and 36 quarterfinals at majors.
Djokovic has known as these “outcomes that did not appear human.”
According to the Hall, Carillo was the primary lady to recurrently commentate on tennis broadcasts and was a correspondent for HBO’s “Real Sports.” She received six Emmy Awards and three Peabody Awards and was inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2018.
“I’ve been privileged to spend my profession sharing the tales of this magnificent recreation,” Carillo mentioned, “and if I’ve opened any doorways alongside the way in which, it should make today in August much more significant.”
Next 12 months’s poll will embrace holdovers Juan Martin del Potro and Svetlana Kuznetsova within the participant class, whereas Serena Williams and Ashleigh Barty, who each performed their final matches in 2022, will likely be eligible for the Hall for the primary time.
