In news that surprises no one who has watched men’s tennis over the last 25 years, Roger Federer has been elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in his very first year of eligibility. The Rhode Island-based Hall confirmed the honour Wednesday, naming the 20-time Grand Slam champion as the sole player selected for the Class of 2026.
Federer, whose rivalry with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic defined what he famously called “a golden time for tennis,” becomes the latest icon to be recognized for a career that transcended statistics and elevated the global profile of the sport. TV commentator, journalist, and former player Mary Carillo was also elected in the contributor category, with the induction ceremony scheduled for August.
Federer said the honour touched him deeply. “I’ve always valued the history of tennis and the example set by those who came before me,” he said. “To be recognized in this way by the sport and by my peers is deeply humbling.”
His journey from a hopeful young Swiss talent to one of the game’s greatest champions is well documented. Federer amassed 20 major titles — eight at Wimbledon, six at the Australian Open, five at the U.S. Open and one at Roland Garros — becoming one of only eight men to achieve a career Grand Slam. He once admitted he never imagined such success: “I was hoping to maybe have one [major], to be quite honest, at the very beginning of my career.”
Federer’s reign set records that once seemed unreachable. He reached 10 consecutive Grand Slam finals between 2005 and 2007 and appeared in 18 of 19 during that stretch. He spent a record 237 straight weeks as world No. 1 — 310 weeks in total — won 103 ATP titles and 1,251 singles matches, second only to Jimmy Connors in the Open era. He also helped Switzerland win the 2014 Davis Cup and claimed Olympic doubles gold alongside Stan Wawrinka in 2008.
His graceful playing style, balletic footwork and attacking all-court game made him a global favourite, while his multilingual interviews and generous personality made him an ambassador of the sport off the court as well. Federer played his final tournament match at Wimbledon in 2021 before officially retiring the following year at the Laver Cup, teaming with longtime rival Nadal in an emotional farewell.
Younger stars — including current world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz — continue to credit Federer as both inspiration and role model. “Everything he does, he does with elegance,” Alcaraz said. “He took the game to another level.”
Carillo, a trailblazer in tennis broadcasting, was celebrated for breaking barriers as one of the first women to regularly commentate on the sport. Her storied career has earned her six Emmy Awards, three Peabody Awards, and a place in the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame.
Looking ahead, the Hall of Fame’s 2027 ballot will bring new excitement with first-time eligibility for Serena Williams and Ash Barty, while past nominees Juan Martin del Potro and Svetlana Kuznetsova remain contenders for future induction.