By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, March 8, 2016
Former world No. 1 players Justine Henin and Marat Safin will be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame on July 16th.
Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve
A pair of stylish Grand Slam champions who owned two of the best backhands of the Open Era headline the International Tennis Hall of Fame's Class of 2016.
Former world No. 1 players Justine Henin and Marat Safin will be the first players from their respective nations iducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. The pair will be inducted into the iconic Newport, Rhode Island-based Hall on July 16th during the Hall of Fame's enshrinement weekend ceremonies.
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In addition, Yvon Petra, a notable French tennis player of the 1940s, and Margaret “Peggy” Scriven, British tennis champion of the 1930s, will be inducted posthumously in the Master Player Category.
The owner of one of the most exquisite one-handed backhands in WTA history, Henin was the year-end No. 1 in 2003, 2006 and 2007. The Belgian captured 43 career titles, including seven Grand Slam crowns.
A four-time French Open champion, Henin also won the gold medal at the 2004 Olympic Games defeating Amélie Mauresmo in the final to win Belgium's lone gold medal at the 2004 Olympics. Mauresmo, a 2015 Hall of Fame inductee who missed the ceremony last year because she was pregnant, is scheduled to attend this year and will reunite with Henin.
"It's a big honor," Henin said. "I was five years old when I started playing tennis and my dream was to become a champion. All of the things that then happened—all the dreams that came true, all the victories and Grand Slams, and every emotion that I lived in my tennis career remains something very important in my life today. Being part of the Hall of Fame says that it will remain something forever, and that is very special. I am really honored."
The explosive Safin was just 20 years old when he shocked Pete Sampras in the 2000 US Open final shattering one of the game's biggest servers to win his first career Grand Slam title.
Five years later, Safin rallied past home favorite Lleyton Hewitt to win his second major championship at the 2005 Australian Open. The temperamental titan, who enjoyed a massive fan following both for his powerful ground game and volatile outbursts, also helped lead Russia to two Davis Cup championships.
Marat Safin and sister Dinara Safina are the only brother-sister tandem in history to attain the world No. 1 rankings. Safin held the top spot in 2000. He was the first Russian man to reach the Wimbledon semifinals in the Open era.
"I'm very happy to be inducted to the Hall of Fame. I want to say thank you to everyone who helped me and supported me throughout my tennis career," Safin said. "To be part of a Hall of Fame is every athlete's dream. I am really honored to be inducted and proud to represent Russian tennis alongside the greatest champions of tennis history."