Hall of Fame Induction Categories and Eligibility Criteria

This summer the International Tennis Hall of Fame only inducted two players most people have never seen play, wheelchair super champions Rick Drainey and Esther Vergeer.

The criteria for singles players to be nominated for election was recently changed. Now to enter the International Tennis Hall of Fame a singles player must have won three Grand Slams and ranked no. 1 for 13 weeks, or won five Grand Slams.

Previously, before the criteria change, Michael Chang and Gabriela Sabatini were inducted with one Grand Slam each.

So now with a limited number of players eligible, beyond Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, very few singles players actually qualify to be inducted or nominated. Thomas Muster, Andres Gomez, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Marcelo Rios were all worthy before the criteria change but now they have no chance to be enshrined in Newport – unless they unretire and win more Grand Slam titles.

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Criteria

• Active as a competitor in the sport within the last 20 years prior to consideration.
• Not a significant factor on the ATP Tour or the WTA within five calendar years prior to election. (Example: If a player retires anytime in 2020, then the player is eligible for induction in 2025.)
• A distinguished record of competitive achievement at the highest international level.
• Consideration will be given to integrity, sportsmanship, and character.
• The Player Category is considered annually and there is no minimum or maximum to the number of players that can be considered. 

Automatic Inclusion

A Player Category candidate will bypass Enshrinee Nominating Committee review and shall be automatically included on the ballot in the candidate’s first year of eligibility if the candidate satisfies any of the following criteria:

Singles Players

• Won at least three major singles titles and was World Number 1 for at least 13 total weeks; or
• Won at least five major singles titles

Doubles Players

• Won at least 12 major doubles titles and was World Number 1 for at least 52 total weeks; or
• Won at least 15 major doubles titles

Length of Time on Ballot

If a Player Category candidate is put on the ballot but not voted in, they will remain on the ballot for the next two years, unless they are voted in or become ineligible based on the year of their retirement.

I disagree with the limits and restrictions for Hall of Fame nomination process. Limiting it to a certain amount of Grand Slam titles won is not what the sport should be all about. There are other factors of importance than just winning, winning, winning. Sportsmanship, style of play, invention of shots, and even certain magical matches should be celebrated such as the Isner-Mahut Wimbledon marathon which lasted 11 hours and five minutes and extended to 70-68 in the fifth set. That match spanned three days to complete. That match alone, the dedication and perseverance of each tennis marvel from America and France, should earn each a special induction into the Hall of Fame, in my opinion.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful and thrilling if the Hall of Fame recognized a special new category of unique but amazing accomplishments in tennis, like Isner and Mahut, Feliciano Lopez’s 79 straight Grand Slam main draw iron man streak, Emma Raducanu winning US Open as an 18 year old qualifier, Marcelo Rios inventing the jumping two-handed backhand. Magic is created on a tennis court and it should be celebrated and remembered.

For the Hall of Fame to only honor winning does not capture the full essence of the sport and it’s many appealing qualities.

Newport · Tennis Hall of Fame

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