This can come as no shock to anybody who has paid any consideration over the previous quarter-century: Roger Federer was elected to the Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Fame in his first yr of eligibility, the Rhode Island-based Corridor introduced Wednesday.
The primary 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 Corridor’s Class of 2026. The Corridor 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 at all times 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 means by the game and by my friends is deeply humbling.”
He’s one in every of eight males with a profession Grand Slam, accumulating 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 Related Press. “I hoped to possibly have one, to be fairly sincere, on the very starting of my profession.”
Federer’s first Slam title got here on the All England Membership 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 am enjoying for the data,” Federer as soon as advised the AP. “I play this recreation as a result of I like it.”
His Grand Slam depend finally was surpassed by Nadal, who obtained to 22 earlier than retiring final yr at age 38, and Djokovic, who has 24 and continues to be energetic at 38.
With a terrific forehand and serve, an attacking, all-court model, and footwork that made every thing appear so easy, Federer gained 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 report 237 consecutive weeks and a complete of 310 within the high spot, led Switzerland to the 2014 Davis Cup title, and teamed with Stan Wawrinka for a doubles gold medal on the 2008 Olympics.
An envoy 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 yr; he bid farewell by enjoying doubles alongside Nadal on the Laver Cup, an occasion Federer’s administration firm based.
Alongside 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 — every thing he does, he does with magnificence,” Alcaraz mentioned. “I respect that. He took the sport to a different degree. … That is what I love essentially the most.”
On the peak of his powers, Federer reached a report 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 referred to as these “outcomes that did not appear human.”
In line with the Corridor, Carillo was the primary lady to frequently commentate on tennis broadcasts and was a correspondent for HBO’s “Actual Sports activities.” She gained six Emmy Awards and three Peabody Awards and was inducted into the Sports activities Broadcasting Corridor of Fame in 2018.
“I have 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 would make this present day in August much more significant.”
Subsequent yr’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 probably be eligible for the Corridor for the primary time.
