Watch: Moment Roger Federer Learns of Induction Into International Tennis Hall of Fame
By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, November 19, 2025
Photo credit: Laver Cup Facebook
People’s champion Roger Federer learned of his impending induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame surrounded by some of tennis’ most special people.
Fittingly, Federer was surrounded by the most prominent champions from tennis’ past—and Swiss’ tennis future—to receive the news he will headline the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026.
Champions including Billie Jean King, Stefan Edberg, Martina Hingis, Boris Becker, Martina Navratilova, Kim Clijsters and many more participated in a Zoom call to welcome Federer to the Hall of Fame.
The Swiss Maestro returned to his roots—Swiss tennis headquarters—to receive the news he will lead the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 and be inducted alongside respected tennis journalist and former French Open mixed doubles champion Mary Carillo.
“I’m looking forward to the journey that leads to the Hall of Fame and I wanted it to be here where it all started for me so that’s why the kids are here,” Federer said. “I had the most magical career and I hope they get inspired so thank you.”
Neither two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova nor 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro, who were also nominated in the Player Category, received enough votes for 2026 induction.
Watch Federer’s reaction welcomed to the Hall of Fame here:
Congratulations being part of the Tennis Hall of Fame and you really, really deserve it,” Hall of Famer and former Federer coach Stefan Edberg told Federer. “You had an incredible career.
“Twenty Grand Slam titles tells it all.”
Martina Hingis, who partnered Federer to lead Switzerland to the 2001 Hopman Cup championship and is the player the former No. 1 cited as his “dream doubles partner”, praised the Swiss’ stylists grace and class on and off court.
“Everything always looked so perfect and so easy when you were on court,” Hall of Famer Hingis told Federer. “What many people don’t see is all the sweat that is behind it because you make it look so easy.”
Legendary Billie Jean King paid tribute to Federer’s championship character as the essential element to his glorious career.
“You meant so much to so many of us,” Billie Jean King said. “You had such guts, such focus, such intensity. I could see how much it meant to you. And just watching you I could see every aspect of your character.”
The young Roger Federer grew up watching Boris Becker and Stefan Edberg battle it out in Wimbledon finals. Becker told Federer his influence far transcends tennis.
“You really put tennis on a different map,” Becker said. “Whenever you started winning, people who had nothing to do with tennis, liked tennis. It was because of you.
“So you’re not only one of the best players in tennis of all time, you’re one of the most important sportsmen of all time.”
After learning of his induction, Federer celebrated by hitting and speaking with Swiss juniors.
Newport will be one of the hottest tickets in tennis next summer when Federer and Carillo are inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
The 44-year-old Federer will be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Player Category. Here’s the Hall of Fame’s bio of Federer:
Roger Federer is one of only eight men in tennis history to achieve a career Grand Slam in singles. He captured his first major title at age 21 at Wimbledon in 2003, going on to become the first male player in tennis history to win 20 major singles titles. Federer then ascended to the world No. 1 ranking for a record 237 consecutive weeks, ultimately holding that spot for 310 total weeks through his career.
He finished his career with 103 singles titles, second most in the Open Era, and was voted to receive the ATP’s Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award 13 times. Additionally, Federer was the ATP Fan Favorite for a record 19 consecutive years, from 2003 to 2021. Representing Switzerland, Federer led his country to the Davis Cup title in 2014 and captured Olympic gold in doubles alongside Stan Wawrinka at the 2008 Beijing Games. As part of Team Europe, Federer captured three-straight Laver Cup titles from 2017 through 2019.
The Contributor Category is considered for Hall of Fame induction every two years, and recognizes true pioneers, visionary leaders, or individuals / groups who have made a transcendent impact on the sport.
Here’s the Hall of Fame’s bio of Mary Carillo, who is inducted in the Contributor Category:
Mary Carillo began her groundbreaking broadcasting career in the early 1980s after retiring from her playing career on the WTA Tour. Starting as an analyst for USA Network, she became the first woman to regularly commentate on tennis, including men’s matches. Her success paved the way for many other women to enter the field and cover the sport on a regular basis.
Throughout her career, Carillo has covered hundreds of tennis events for major networks like ESPN and NBC, earning multiple awards, including WTA’s “Broadcaster of the Year.” Beyond tennis, she has also covered 16 Olympic Games and served as a correspondent for HBO’s “Real Sports,” earning six Emmy® Awards and three Peabody Awards before her induction into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2018.
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