Roger Federer inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame

Roger Federer was formally inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame at a special ceremony held in Newport, Rhode Island. The 45-year-old Swiss used the occasion to deliver an emotional address in which he reflected on his earliest memories of the sport and the meaning of the honour.

Federer recalls childhood, early duties at matches

In his speech Federer described the surreal feeling of walking through the Hall of Fame and confronting the history of tennis. "It's incredible to see yourself in a place like this, to walk through the Hall of Fame and to immerse yourself in the history of this sport. It means everything to me. To read the stories of my greatest heroes and to understand — really understand for the first time — that I have a place here. It is one of the greatest privileges of my life," he said.

He painted a vivid picture of his first up-close experiences at tournaments, remembering a childhood role close to the action. "I stood leaning on the back wall with my hands behind my back and my eyes on the ball. I'll never forget how the game looked from there and how it felt. The excitement of being so close to the players, feeding them the ball, giving them the towel, watching them sweat, fight and find solutions — the struggles, the intensity. I remember not having any legs the next morning. Standing all day is hard work," the Swiss recalled.

Federer also looked back to his first racket and the way he learned the game. "Exactly, my father's wooden racket. I grew up with wooden rackets and white tennis balls — for so many years. That racket was so heavy that I played both forehand and backhand with two hands. Who would have thought I'd finish as a player with a one-handed backhand?" he asked, drawing laughs from the audience.

Closing the ceremony address, Federer thanked fans for their long-term support. "This boy from Basel thanks you for the incredible honor. And thank you — to all of you — for sharing the journey that united us," he said, before the formal induction concluded.

The Hall of Fame induction adds a historic institutional recognition to a career already defined by Grand Slam titles, longevity and global popularity. The ceremony in Newport gathered former players, colleagues and supporters to mark the milestone.

Photo: press material from the event