Roger Federer named in 2026 International Tennis Hall of Fame Nominees

Roger Federer was the first man to win 20-Grand Slams.

The International Tennis Hall of Fame has unveiled its nominees for the Class of 2026, and the 20-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer’s name is shining brightest on a list that celebrates the sport’s finest.

The Swiss maestro, widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, headlines a ballot that also features Svetlana Kuznetsova, Juan Martin del Potro and in the contributor’s category there are Mary Carillo, and Marshall Happer.

Federer’s nomination was inevitable. Over the course of a career spanning more than two decades, he redefined tennis excellence with a rare combination of artistry, athleticism, and sportsmanship inspiring billions of people for years.

The 2026 Hall of Fame nominees have been revealed, and YOU can vote for who you think deserves to receive the ultimate honor in tennis!​✅ @rogerfederer ✅ @SvetlanaK27 ✅ @delpotrojuan ​VOTE NOW ➡️ https://t.co/g5rHn2wjms ​#ITHFVote 🗳️ pic.twitter.com/zPzSPrX3at

— International Tennis Hall of Fame (@TennisHalloFame) October 1, 2025

He became the first man to claim 20 Grand Slam singles titles. Roger Federer amassed 103 tour-level titles that placed him second only to Jimmy Connors in the list of most singles title sin open era.

The Swiss has spent a record 237 consecutive weeks atop the ATP rankings, which is the highest in open era. All this achieved while having the other two giants Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic on the battle grounds.

His success came on every surface, from his record eight titles at Wimbledon to his long-sought French Open victory in 2009 that completed the career Grand Slam.

Yet Federer was admired for more than his numbers. He spoke in English, French, German, and Swiss German, bridging cultures with the same ease that he bridged rivalries. His style of play, calm demeanor, and professionalism made him a figure respected well beyond the sport.

Also Read: Novak Djokovic steers clear of Roger Federer in elite tennis list with US Open 2025 semi-final appearance

Fans around the world voted him their favorite player for 19 straight years, while fellow players honored him with the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award 13 times.

Roger Federer played his last professional tennis match in 2022 September, at the Laver Cup in London. He partnered with his longtime rival Rafael Nadal in a doubles match against Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe of Team World.

The match concluded with a defeat for Federer and Nadal, who had a match point but ultimately fell in a thrilling battle. 

Understanding the Tennis Hall of Fame and induction process

Induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame is organized across three categories: Player, Contributor, and Wheelchair.

Players are recognized for distinguished competitive achievements, Contributors for huge impact on the sport off the court, and Wheelchair athletes for outstanding performance in wheelchair tennis.

To be eligible for nomination, players must have been retired from competitive tennis for at least five years. Contributors, such as coaches, administrators, or journalists, must either be at least 65 years old or have been retired from their active work in tennis for at least five years. Wheelchair tennis players follow similar rules to players.

Nominees are evaluated by a panel of journalists, historians, and tennis industry leaders, and players must receive at least 75 percent of the total vote to be inducted. Fans also participate through online voting.

The final inductees will be announced in November, with the official ceremony taking place in Newport next summer.

Who are Federer’s challengers?

The other two nominees for the International Tennis Hall of Fame of class 2026 are:

Svetlana Kuznetsova: The Russian women’s tennis great is a two-time Grand Slam singles champion (2004 U.S. Open, 2009 French Open) and multiple-time doubles major winner. Her inspiring career baosts 18 WTA singles titles and 16 WTA doubles titles.

One of her remarkable achievements include 7 wins over reigning world No. 1 players, including Serena Williams in 2016. Svetlana was the WTA Most Impressive Newcomer in 2002. She was also honored with the Jerry Diamond ACES Award for promoting the game off-court (2006).

Juan Martin del Potro: The Argentine tennis star, often called “Delpo,” is known for his powerful games in Tennis. He won the 2009 U.S. Open, earned two medals at the Olympics (bronze in London 2012 and silver at Rio 2016), and led Argentina to its first Davis Cup title in 2016.

Over his career, he won 22 ATP singles titles and recorded 10 victories over players ranked No. 1, the most by any player who never held the top spot himself. Remarkably, he is one of only three players to defeat Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer while each held the World No. 1 ranking.

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