Roger Federer just got some pretty amazing news. He’s been elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame and will be inducted in 2026.
Getting into the Hall of Fame isn’t automatic, even for great players. Over the past few years, former stars like Juan Carlos Ferrero, Ana Ivanovic, and Carlos Moya have all failed the voting process three times in a row.
But Federer? There was never any doubt.
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The Swiss legend joins a group of modern tennis superstars who are locks for induction. Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, and Novak Djokovic will likely follow in the coming years.
Federer’s resume speaks for itself. 20 Grand Slam titles. 310 weeks at world No. 1. 103 Tour-level titles.
Those numbers tell the story of one of the greatest careers in tennis history.
A Special Announcement
Kim Clijsters, the Hall of Fame president, broke the news to Federer during a video call. The timing was perfect – Federer was visiting Swiss Tennis courts where his career first began, surrounded by young Swiss players just starting their journeys.
"It’s a tremendous honor to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame and to stand alongside so many of the game’s great champions," Federer said.
"Throughout my career, I’ve always valued the history of tennis and the example set by those who came before me. It was very special to receive the news at Swiss Tennis, surrounded by the next generation of players — the place where my own journey first began."
The location wasn’t coincidental. There’s something poetic about receiving this honor at the place where it all started, with the next generation watching.
"To be recognized in this way by the sport and by my peers is deeply humbling," Federer added. "I look forward to visiting Newport next August to celebrate this special moment with the tennis community."
Praise from Tennis Legends
The video call included some of tennis’s biggest names, all eager to congratulate the Swiss maestro.
Boris Becker didn’t hold back with his praise. The German legend called Federer "the most important sportsman of all time" – pretty strong words from someone who knows a thing or two about greatness.
"You really put tennis on a different map. Whenever you started winning, people that had nothing to do with tennis liked tennis. It was because of you. So you’re not only one of the best players in tennis of all time, you’re the most important sportsman of all time."
That’s what separated Federer from so many other champions. He didn’t just win matches – he made people fall in love with tennis who’d never cared about the sport before.
Billie Jean King was also part of the ceremony. The tennis icon and activist shared what made watching Federer so special.
"You 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."
King’s words capture something important about Federer’s legacy. Sure, the titles and rankings matter. But it was how he played – with grace, intensity, and obvious love for the game – that made him truly special.
The induction ceremony will take place in Newport next August. It’ll be another chance for the tennis world to celebrate a player who changed the sport forever.
At 43, Federer retired from professional tennis in 2022. But his impact on the game will last much longer than his playing career ever did.
