Federer Inducted Into Tennis Hall of Fame at Newport Ceremony

Roger Federer is officially inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Saturday, August 29, 2026. The ceremony takes place in Newport, Rhode Island, starting at 6:30 PM ET. The 45-year-old Swiss joins the Class of 2026 alongside journalist and producer Mary Carillo, honored in the Contributor Category.

Twenty Grand Slam titles and an unmatched career

Federer won twenty Grand Slam titles between 2003 and 2018, including a record eight Wimbledon championships in men's singles. He spent a total of 310 weeks at world No. 1, including 237 consecutive weeks from February 2004 to August 2008, a mark no other player came close to matching during his era. His final competitive appearance came at the 2022 Laver Cup in London, where he played doubles alongside Rafael Nadal in an emotional farewell.

An emotional return to Flushing Meadows

The week had already delivered a special moment for the Swiss legend's fans. On Monday, August 25, Federer returned to Arthur Ashe Stadium for an exhibition match against Andy Roddick, winning 6-3. He then partnered John McEnroe to defeat Andre Agassi and Roddick 7-5 in doubles. It was the first time Federer had set foot on the Flushing Meadows courts since 2019. Asked about a potential return to professional competition, the five-time US Open champion was emphatic: professional tennis belongs to his past.

A ceremony surrounded by legends

On the eve of the induction, Federer took part in the Celebrity Pro Classic at Newport alongside several Hall of Fame members: John McEnroe, Stefan Edberg, Lleyton Hewitt, Bob and Mike Bryan, Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, Martina Navratilova and Gabriela Sabatini. Saturday's ceremony airs live on Tennis Channel in the United States. FOX Sports journalist Tom Rinaldi hosts the event. Federer becomes the sixth Swiss player inducted into tennis's pantheon, following Martina Hingis, who was inducted in 2013. (Sources: ATP Tour, Variety, Tennis Hall of Fame, Bleacher Report)