Roger Federer calls induction into International Tennis Hall of Fame 'deeply humbling' as Swiss icon argues list 'should be much bigger'
Updated 19/11/2025 at 20:22 GMT
Roger Federer will be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame (ITHF) in August 2026. The Swiss legend won 103 titles during his career and became the first male player to win 20 Grand Slam titles before his retirement in 2022. The 44-year-old, who will be the first of the 'Big Three' to be added, has said it is a "tremendous honour" and that the recognition is "deeply humbling".
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Roger Federer has said it is a "tremendous honour" after it was confirmed he will be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame (ITHF) next year.
The 44-year-old will be inducted during a celebration next August in Newport, Rhode Island, the ITHF confirmed on Wednesday.
The Swiss player, who retired in 2022, won 20 Grand Slam tournaments during his illustrious career, becoming the first male player to reach the milestone.
Federer said in a statement shared by the ITHF: "It's a tremendous honour to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame and to stand alongside so many of the game's great champions.
"To be recognised in this way by the sport and by my peers is deeply humbling.
"Throughout my career, I've always valued the history of tennis and the example set by those who came before me."
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Federer won 103 titles and spent 310 weeks of his career at the top of the rankings during an incredibly competitive era, notably enjoying an intense rivalry with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
The 44-year-old held the world No. 1 ranking for a record 237 weeks straight between 2004 and 2008 and is one of only eight men to achieve a career Grand Slam.
Players are required to be five years removed from playing a significant role in the sport to enter its Hall of Fame, which currently has 270 members.
Federer is therefore the first of the ‘Big Three’ to be inducted, with Djokovic still playing and Nadal retiring in 2024.
"I do believe the tennis Hall of Fame should be much bigger," Federer said in an interview after receiving a phone call confirming his induction.
"The next years are going to be absolutely stacked with absolute legends."
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Federer received the phone call confirming his place last week, with Kim Clijsters and Patrick McEnroe, the ITHF’s honorary and official president, on the other end of the line.
There were several other Hall of Famers on the call, 33 in total, offering their congratulations, including Boris Becker, Martina Navratilova and Rod Laver.
"I thought that maybe they were just going to go like, ‘congrats,’ and then wave into the camera, but every person literally spoke on the call," Federer said.
"It was really meaningful to have your heroes speak to you in a moment like this."
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