Wimbledon champions will light up the historic grass of Newport this summer.
Croatian tennis legend Goran Ivanišević and Spanish tennis great Conchita Martínez, each a Wimbledon champion and former world No. 2, have been elected to receive tennis’ ultimate honor in 2020—induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
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The new inductees will be celebrated tonight in a special ceremony in Rod Laver Arena at the Australian Open, joined by many other Hall of Fame tennis legends who will gather to welcome them for the first time to the Hall of Fame.
“This is a huge honor. I am proud and humbled to become the first ever Tennis Hall of Famer from Croatia," said Ivanišević. "I am grateful to the committee for selecting me for this honor and so thankful to the fans who supported me in the fan vote and throughout my entire career, especially so many great fans in Croatia. I am honored and excited to become a Hall of Famer.”
Since retiring from competition, both Ivanišević and Martínez have remained highly engaged in tennis, with both currently coaching top players who have advanced to the Australian Open quarterfinals this week. Ivanišević coaches current world No. 2 Novak Djokovic and Martínez coaches fellow Spaniard Garbiñe Muguruza.
"Becoming a Hall of Famer is such a great honor," Martinez said. "To be remembered as part of tennis history and among the greatest in our sport, so many of whom I have always admired, is really special and I’m grateful for this recognition.”
Ivanišević will become Croatia’s first-ever Hall of Fame tennis player, while Martínez joins fellow legendary Spaniards including Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario, Manuel Santana, Manuel Orantes, and the late Andrés Gimeno and Manuel Alonso, among the tennis legends in the Hall of Fame.
In addition to their election by the Hall of Fame's official voting group, Ivanišević and Martínez also came in first and second place, respectively, in the Hall of Fame’s fan vote for the Class of 2020.
This week’s celebration in Melbourne is the first public announcement and celebration of the new inductees. They will be officially inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in a ceremony on the evening of Saturday, July 18, 2020 in Newport, Rhode Island, USA. Tickets for the ceremony are on sale now on tennisfame.com/enshrinement.
Photo credit: International Tennis Hall of Fame