The king of cement and grass receives his eternal crown
In what constitutes the most shocking revelation since we discovered that extra avocado costs, Roger Federer has been voted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. In other words, in a plot twist that no one saw coming, the guy who spent two decades making running for a yellow ball look like a ballet received a massive yes. His reaction, worthy of an Oscar speech, was: “It’s deeply moving.” We are also moved, Roger, especially to remember that he is no longer on the circuit.
The Swiss, the first man to reach 20 Grand Slam titles and founding member of the trio that raised the level of tennis to a stratospheric height along with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, was the only candidate to receive the approval of 75% of the voters. Basically, it was like that time when all your WhatsApp contacts congratulated you on your birthday, but in an elite version and without cake emojis. The venue, located in Rhode Island, does not reveal the results, but we can assume that it was something of a straight-set sweep.
A race from another planet (or at least, another level)
Federer’s first Grand Slam title came at Wimbledon in 2003, and from there, the man didn’t stop. He accumulated eight championships on the sacred grass of London, six in the Australian Open, five in the United States Open and one on the clay of Roland Garros. In a statement that we find very relatable, he confessed to The Associated Press: “I was hoping to maybe have one, to be honest.” And then he ended up with twenty. A mood.
His record of 20 majors was eventually surpassed by Nadal (22) and Djokovic (24), but Federer was the one who opened Pandora’s box of what was humanly possible. Djokovic went so far as to describe his streaks of 23 consecutive semi-finals and 36 quarter-finals in major tournaments as “results that did not seem human.” We can only maintain streaks of watching full seasons on Netflix, so respect.
With a style that mixed the power of a devastating forehand with the grace of a feline, Federer won 103 tournaments and 1,251 matches. He spent a record 237 consecutive weeks as world number one, a reign straight out of a fantasy epic, but with Nike sweatshirts. He even led Switzerland to win the Davis Cup and won an Olympic gold in doubles with Stan Wawrinka in Beijing 2008.
Legacy, elegance and the future of the game
But beyond the trophies, there is the legacy. Players of the new generation like Carlos Alcaraz cite him as their greatest inspiration. “The elegance he has shown on the court, off the court… everything he does, he does it with elegance,” said the Spaniard. Basically, Federer was the class teacher that we all wanted to have, both for a setback and to look good in a photo.
And we cannot forget Mary CarilloAugust ceremony in the category of contributors. Carillo, a pioneer who broke barriers in sports broadcasting, won six Emmy Awards and commented that this recognition will make the day “even more meaningful.” A feminine power that deserves its own spotlight.
Federer’s official retirement came in 2022, saying goodbye by playing doubles with Nadal in the Laver Cup, an event that his own company founded. Because of course, if you are going to retire, let it be by creating your own league and playing with your nemesis/best friend. A perfect ending for someone who turned tennis into a work of art.
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