It was a major milestone when Roger Federer learned of his election to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Legends he heard about in the immediate aftermath made the moment even more special.
Boris Becker and Stefan Edberg, fellow members of the ATP No. 1 Club that grew up to be the idols of the Swiss, joined Federer on a video call to share their congratulations.
“You really put tennis on a different map. Whenever you started winning, people who had nothing to do with tennis loved tennis. That was because of you,” Becker said. “So not only are you one of the greatest tennis players of all time, you are also the most important sportsman of all time.”
Edberg had a special relationship with Federer and was his coach for two seasons.
“Congratulations [on] be part of the Tennis Hall of Fame. You really deserve it,” said Edberg. “You have had an incredible career and twenty Grand Slam titles say it all.”
Other members of the International Tennis Hall of Fame also shared their well wishes with the 103-time tour-level titlist, including Billie Jean King and Federer’s compatriot Martina Hingis.
“You meant so much to so many of us,” King said. “You had such grit, such focus, such intensity. I could see how much it meant to you and just watching you brought out every aspect of your character.”
Hingis said, “Everything always looked so perfect and easy when you were on the court. A lot of people don’t see all the sweat that goes behind it because you make it look so easy.”
Federer will be officially inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame during the Induction Celebration in Newport from August 27-29, 2026.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]
#Becker #Federer #Hall #Fame #news #important #sportsman #time