Roger Federer becomes the first member of tennis’s ‘Big Three’ to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Federer, 44, retired in 2022 after winning 103 titles at ATP level, second only to Jimmy Connors (109) during the Open era.
The Swiss great was the first man to win 20 Grand Slam singles titles – a total that has since been surpassed by ‘Big Three’ rivals Novak Djokovic (24) and Rafael Nadal (22).
Federer, one of only eight men to achieve a career Grand Slam, received the news at Swiss Tennis, where he played in his youth, when he was welcomed by some of the current 270 Hall of Fame members in a video call.
“It is a tremendous honor to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame and to stand alongside so many of the game’s great champions,” Federer said.
“Throughout my career, I have always appreciated the history of tennis and the example of those who came before me.
“It is deeply humbling to be recognized in this way by the sport and by my peers. I look forward to visiting Newport in August to celebrate this special moment with the tennis community.”
Federer will be inaugurated on the weekend of August 27-29 next year, when ceremonies will take place in Newport, Rhode Island, in the United States.
Of his 20 major victories, Federer won a record eight men’s singles titles at Wimbledon.
He spent a total of 310 weeks at the world number one ranking, including a record 237 consecutive weeks.
Broadcaster and journalist Mary Carillo has also been chosen in the Contributor category.
Fred Perry and Virginia Wade are among the famous British names already in the Hall of Fame.
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