Plenty of us tennis fans are preparing to celebrate one of its greatest legends today, as Roger Federer will be formally inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, capping a career that we all remember of elegance, excellence, global sportsmanship and plenty of major trophies.
In Newport, Rhode Island, Federer will join an elite group of tennis legends as part of the International Tennis Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
Reflecting on the honor ahead of his induction, Federer admitted that becoming a Hall of Famer was never among his childhood ambitions.
“I didn’t grow up wanting to be in the Tennis Hall of Fame. My dream was to win Wimbledon, be number one, win the tournament in my city, or things like that.”
However, he acknowledged the significance of the honor and what it could mean for future generations.
“I believe that entering the Hall of Fame has a different meaning. Perhaps future generations can also have that dream.”
103 tour-level titles
Federer’s induction recognises a remarkable career over more than two decades at the highest level of tennis. He captured 103 tour-level singles titles and spent 310 weeks as the ATP World No. 1, including a record 237 consecutive weeks at the top of the rankings.
His Grand Slam record: eight Wimbledon titles, six Australian Open crowns, five US Open championships, and one Roland-Garros triumph. His victory at Roland-Garros in 2009 completed the career Grand Slam.
Roger is one of only eight men in tennis history to achieve a career Grand Slam in singles and was the first male player in tennis history to win 20 major singles titles.
But Federer’s legacy is more than that. He brought a specific aesthetic to the game, combining graceful movement, precise shot-making and of course the iconic one-handed backhand. His ability to transition seamlessly from defense to attack, or just how easy he made hard things look, are just some of the aspects that made him one of the most admired tennis players we’ve seen.
When is the induction?
The Hall of Fame celebration began Friday with the Celebrity Pro Classic but the induction for Federer will happen on Saturday evening 6:00 pm EST (or midnight CET).
What is your favorite Federer moment?
