Roger Federer elected to International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1st year of eligibility

In a move that surprised no one in the tennis world, Roger Federer has been elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, the Rhode Island-based institution announced Wednesday. The Swiss maestro, widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, was the only candidate to receive enough support in the player category for the Hall’s class of 2026.

“I’ve always valued the history of tennis and the example set by those who came before me,” Federer said in a statement. “To be recognized in this way by the sport and by my peers is deeply humbling.”

Federer’s election required approval from at least 75% of the voting body, which includes tennis media, historians, industry leaders, Hall of Fame members, and fans. The Hall does not disclose voting results, maintaining its tradition of discretion in the selection process.

Joining Federer in the 2026 class is Mary Carillo, elected in the contributor category. Carillo, who had a brief playing career before becoming a pioneering broadcaster, was the first woman to regularly commentate on tennis broadcasts and served as a correspondent for HBO’s “Real Sports.” Her illustrious media career earned her six Emmy Awards and three Peabody Awards, and she was previously inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2018.

Federer’s Hall of Fame induction cements a legacy that transformed tennis during what he himself called “a golden time for tennis.” His career statistics are staggering: 20 Grand Slam singles titles, 103 tournament victories, and 1,251 match wins—figures surpassed in men’s tennis only by Jimmy Connors in the Open era, which began in 1968.

His Grand Slam collection includes eight championships at Wimbledon, six at the Australian Open, five at the U.S. Open, and one at the French Open, making him one of just eight men in history to achieve a career Grand Slam. In 2009, he broke Pete Sampras’ then-record of 14 major titles by defeating Andy Roddick in an epic Wimbledon final that concluded with a 16-14 fifth set.

“I didn’t predict I was going to have this many majors,” Federer once told The Associated Press with characteristic modesty. “I was hoping to maybe have one, to be quite honest, at the very beginning of my career.”

Federer’s time at the top was remarkable for its consistency. He spent a record 237 consecutive weeks as world number one, finished five different years as the top-ranked player, and accumulated 310 total weeks at the pinnacle of the sport. Beyond individual accolades, he led Switzerland to the 2014 Davis Cup title and partnered with Stan Wawrinka to win doubles gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Federer’s graceful playing style—featuring a versatile forehand, precise serve, and balletic footwork that made everything appear effortless—earned him millions of fans worldwide. His career overlapped with two other all-time greats, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, who eventually surpassed his Grand Slam total. Nadal retired last year with 22 major titles, while Djokovic remains active at 38 with 24 championships.

At the height of his dominance from 2005 to 2007, Federer reached an unprecedented 10 consecutive Grand Slam finals, winning eight. He also appeared in 18 of 19 major finals during one stretch and compiled remarkable streaks of 23 semifinals and 36 quarterfinals at Grand Slam events—achievements that Djokovic has described as “results that didn’t seem human.”

Federer played his final match at Wimbledon in 2021 at age 39. His official retirement came the following year, with a farewell doubles match alongside longtime rival Nadal at the Laver Cup, an event created by Federer’s management company.

Beyond his on-court achievements, Federer’s impact extends to inspiring the next generation of players. Current world number one Carlos Alcaraz, who at 22 has already won six Grand Slam titles, has cited Federer as a role model.

“The elegance he has shown on court, off the court—how he treated people, everyone; a really humble guy—everything he does, he does with elegance,” Alcaraz said. “I appreciate that. He took the game to another level… that’s what I admire the most.”

Looking ahead to next year’s Hall of Fame ballot, holdovers Juan Martin del Potro and Svetlana Kuznetsova will be joined by first-time eligibles Serena Williams and Ash Barty, both of whom played their final matches in 2022.

The induction ceremony for Federer and Carillo is scheduled for August 2026 in Newport, Rhode Island.