Roger Federer, one of tennis's most celebrated figures, has been selected for induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. The announcement comes in his first year of eligibility, recognizing a career that redefined the sport. The induction ceremony for the Swiss Maestro is scheduled to take place in Newport, Rhode Island, US, from 27/8 to 29/8/2026.

Federer received the news directly from current Hall of Fame members, including two of his inspirations, Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker. Expressing his gratitude on 19/11, Federer stated, "It is a tremendous honor to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and to join the ranks of many great champions of this sport. Throughout my career, I have always cherished the history of tennis and followed in the footsteps of those who came before me. I look forward to coming to Newport next August to celebrate this special moment with the tennis community."

Federer's illustrious career boasts 20 Grand Slam singles titles, making him the first male player to reach this milestone before Rafael Nadal (22) and Novak Djokovic (24) surpassed his record. He secured 103 career titles before retiring in 2022. A testament to his dominance, Federer held the world No. 1 ranking for a record 237 consecutive weeks between 2004 and 2008.

Federer holds the record for eight men's singles Wimbledon titles. *Photo: BBC*

Beyond his Grand Slam success, Federer's impact extends to numerous other achievements. He received the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award a remarkable 13 times and was voted the ATP Fan Favorite for 19 consecutive years. His contributions also include a 2008 Olympic men's doubles gold medal, leading Switzerland to a Davis Cup victory in 2014, and founding the Laver Cup team competition to honor the legacy of legend Rod Laver.

Federer was the sole candidate to receive enough votes in the Athlete category for the 2026 Hall of Fame class. Players become eligible for consideration five years after their last competitive match. Induction requires securing 75% of the votes from a diverse group, including: media, former players, industry leaders, Hall of Fame members, and fans.

As one of only eight male players to achieve a career Grand Slam, Federer's major titles include eight at Wimbledon, six at the Australian Open, five at the US Open, and one at Roland Garros. Reflecting on his journey, Federer once told AP, "I didn't think I would win so many major titles. Honestly, when I started my career, I only hoped I could win one."

His first Grand Slam triumph came at Wimbledon in 2003. He famously surpassed Pete Sampras's record of 14 men's majors by winning Wimbledon in 2009, defeating Andy Roddick 16–14 in the fifth set of a memorable final. Federer secured his 20th and final Grand Slam at the Australian Open in 2018. Known for his exceptional forehand and serve, an all-court attacking game, and graceful movement, Federer is considered to possess one of the most elegant playing styles in history. He amassed 1,251 singles victories, second only to Jimmy Connors in the Open Era (which began in 1968). At the peak of his career, he set a record of 10 consecutive Grand Slam finals from 2005–2007, winning eight of them.

The upcoming ballot will feature this year's remaining candidates, Juan Martin del Potro and Svetlana Kuznetsova, in the Athlete category. Serena Williams and Ash Barty, both of whom played their last matches in 2022, will become eligible for Hall of Fame consideration for the first time.

Vy Anh