Roger Federer is set to become the first member of the ‘Big Three’ to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, according to BBC Sport.
Federer, 44, retired in 2022 after securing 103 ATP-level titles, a tally surpassed only by Jimmy Connors’ 109 in the Open era.
The Swiss legend was the first man to claim 20 Grand Slam singles titles — a record later overtaken by his ‘Big Three’ counterparts Novak Djokovic (24) and Rafael Nadal (22).
Federer, who is among the few players to complete a career Grand Slam, learned of his Hall of Fame induction at Swiss Tennis, where he trained as a young player. He was congratulated by some of the 270 existing Hall of Fame members during a video call.
“It’s a tremendous honour to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame and to stand alongside so many of the game’s great champions,” Federer said.
“Throughout my career, I’ve always valued the history of tennis and the example set by those who came before me.
“To be recognised in this way by the sport and by my peers is deeply humbling. I look forward to visiting Newport next August to celebrate this special moment with the tennis community.”
Federer’s induction ceremony is scheduled to take place from 27–29 August next year in Newport, Rhode Island, in the United States.