Federer elected to Hall of Fame in first year of eligibility

Well, this will come as no surprise to anyone who's paid any attention over the past quarter-century: Roger Federer was elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, the Rhode Island-based Hall announced last week.

The first man to win 20 Grand Slam singles titles, and part of an era of unprecedented greatness alongside rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic — during what Federer termed "a golden time for tennis" — he was the only candidate to receive enough support in the player category for the Hall's class of 2026.

Players can be considered after five years away from the tour and need to be selected by 75 percent of the voting group, which includes tennis media, historians, industry leaders, members of the Hall and fans. The Hall does not reveal voting results.

TV announcer and journalist Mary Carillo, who was also a player, was elected in the contributor category. The induction ceremony is in August.

"I've always valued the history of tennis and the example set by those who came before me," Federer said. "To be recognized in this way by the sport and by my peers is deeply humbling."

He is one of eight men with a career Grand Slam, collecting eight championships at Wimbledon, six at the Australian Open, five at the US Open and one at the French Open.

"I didn't predict I was going to have this many majors," Federer once said in an interview. "At the very beginning of my career, I was hoping to maybe have one, to be quite honest."

Federer's first Slam title came at the All England Club in 2003, and he broke Pete Sampras' then-record for a male of 14 major titles by winning Wimbledon in 2009, defeating Andy Roddick 16-14 in the fifth set of the final. Federer claimed his 20th at the 2018 Australian Open.

"I don't really feel like I'm playing for the records," Federer once said. "I play this game because I love it."

His Grand Slam count was eventually surpassed by Nadal, who got to 22 before retiring last year at the age of 38, and Djokovic, who has 24 and is still active at 38.

With a terrific forehand and serve, an attacking, all-court style and footwork that made everything seem so effortless, Federer won 103 tournaments and 1,251 matches in singles, totals eclipsed in the men's game in the Open era, which began in 1968, only by Jimmy Connors.

Federer finished with five years at No 1 in the ATP rankings, spending a record 237 consecutive weeks and a total of 310 in the top spot, he led Switzerland to the 2014 Davis Cup title and teamed with Stan Wawrinka for a doubles gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Agencies via Xinhua