Roger Federer Set for Tennis Hall of Fame Enshrinement

Roger Federer will be enshrined in the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, on Saturday, with the former world-leading player reflecting on a career he says gave him “the best time.”

Federer, 45, will be honoured alongside broadcaster and former player Mary Carillo. The ceremony offers a moment to recognise not only a record of sustained success, but also the wider connection Federer built with fellow players, tournament staff and supporters during 25 years on tour.

The Swiss great said retirement changed his view of what people remembered most about his time in the sport. While he once saw tennis primarily through the lens of forehands, backhands, break points and victories, he came to understand that his conduct away from the court also became part of his legacy.

“But actually it becomes a little bit, not irrelevant eventually, but it’s about what were you remembered for, how did you behave in the locker rooms or in the corridors or maybe with the media, or with the tournament directors, the ball kids,” Federer said.

A career defined by winning and connection

Federer’s playing record alone made him one of tennis’ defining figures. He won 1,251 matches and 103 tournaments, including 20 Grand Slam singles titles. His five consecutive US Open titles from 2004 to 2008 remain a central part of that record.

During a remarkable stretch from 2004 through 2006, Federer compiled a 247-15 record. From 2005 to 2007, he reached a record 10 straight Grand Slam finals and won eight of them. His longevity and consistency were matched by broad public support, reflected in the ATP Tour’s fan favourite award every year from 2003 to 2021.

He also received the ATP Tour’s sportsmanship award annually from 2004 to 2009 and again from 2011 to 2017. Alongside his trophies, Federer earned nearly $130.6 million in prize money.

Andre Agassi, whom Federer defeated in the 2005 US Open final, described him in a video shown before Federer took the court at the US Open this week as “the best I’ve ever played against.”

Federer returned to Flushing Meadows for an exhibition, marking his first time playing there since 2019. Fans queued to enter Arthur Ashe Stadium well before the event, with lines compared to those normally seen during the second week of the tournament.

For Federer, that reception underlined the bond he formed with fans over a career that took him far beyond the sport’s biggest annual events. He recalled regular trips to New York, London and Paris, but also appearances in cities including Cape Town and Mexico City. An exhibition against Rafael Nadal in Cape Town drew nearly 52,000 fans, while an event against Alexander Zverev in Mexico City attracted more than 42,000.

Those exhibitions came late in his career, when health concerns required him to limit his schedule. Federer said he disliked having to reduce his travel because he enjoyed visiting places beyond the major tournament circuit.

Federer looks back with gratitude

Federer said the friendships he made throughout the game are among the parts of his career that now stand out most strongly. He said he was happy to have gone through 25 years on tour and to feel that many people missed his presence, from friends around the game to supporters who tell him they wish he were still competing.

“Then I get a flashback saying it was an amazing time, and I say it every time,” Federer said. “I loved it, and it’s a shame I can’t be on the tour anymore. But it was a great, great time and I miss it dearly.”

He remains connected to tennis by occasionally attending events and hitting with his children. Federer and his wife Mirka are parents of two sets of twins, and he described tennis as the “glue” linking many aspects of his life today.

The Hall of Fame ceremony will formally place Federer among the sport’s honoured figures. For him, it is also an opportunity to look back on a career defined by historic results, global travel and lasting relationships across tennis.