 "File photo of Roger Federer holding the Wimbledon trophy. AP")
Roger Federer will be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in August next year, after he was elected to join the elite club for the class of 2026 on Wednesday. One of the most decorated names in the world of tennis, the Swiss maestro will join the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
The International Tennis Hall of Fame uploaded a video where Federer was officially given the news of his induction virtually at the Swiss Tennis Headquarters. The video showed former tennis greats shower praise on the 20-time Grand Slam winner.
Federer called the most important sportsman of all time
German legend Boris Becker even hailed Federer as “the most important sportsman of all time”.
“Whenever you started winning, people that had nothing to do with tennis liked tennis because of you,” Becker said. “So, you’re not only one of the best players in tennis of all time, you’re the most important sportsman of all time.”
“Everything always looked so perfect, easy when you were on court, and many people don’t see all the sweat that is behind it because you kind of make it look so easy,” said former world number one in WTA rankings Martina Hingis who also partnered with Federer in their 2001 Hopman Cup triumph.
Billi Jean King, an icon of women’s tennis, praised Federer’s focus and intensity.
“You have meant so much to so many of us. You had such guts, such focus, such intensity. I could see how much it meant to you, and just watching you brought out every aspect of your character,” said King.
Federer says ‘deeply humbled’
“I’ve always valued the history of tennis and the example set by those who came before me,” Federer said on his Hall of Fame induction. “To be recognized in this way by the sport and by my peers is deeply humbling.”
Regarded as one of the greatest tennis players in the history of the sport, Federer was the first man to win 20 Grand Slams. The Swiss legend spent 237 consecutive weeks from 2004 to 2008 as the top ranked player — the longest streak at No. 1 in ATP or WTA rankings history.
Alongside Federer, former player-turned-broadcaster Mary Carillo was also elected to join the Hall of Fame next year.