Roger Federer nominated for prestigious honour Nadal and Djokovic haven't received

Roger Federer, the first man to clinch 20 Grand Slam singles titles, has been nominated for the International Tennis Hall of Fame's class of 2026. The Swiss maestro, who redefined tennis alongside Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, boasts a record that includes 103 trophies and 1,251 match wins in singles - a tally only surpassed by Jimmy Connors in the Open era.

Federer's formidable forehand, aggressive all-court style and nimble footwork made his game seem effortless. He ended five seasons as world No.1, spent an unprecedented 237 consecutive weeks at the top, led Switzerland to Davis Cup glory in 2014 and bagged a doubles gold medal with compatriot Stan Wawrinka at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

At his peak, Federer reached an unmatched 10 consecutive Grand Slam finals from 2005-07, securing eight titles during this period. His dominance extended into 2010, making 18 of 19 major finals. He also had streaks of 36 quarter-finals in a row and 23 straight semifinals.

His retirement wasn't announced until the following year, culminating in a farewell doubles appearance alongside Nadal at the Laver Cup, an event founded by his management company.

Federer appears alongside two-time major singles champion Svetlana Kuznetsova and 2009 US Open victor Juan Martin del Potro in the Hall's player category on the ballot.

Two nominees feature in the contributor category: television commentator Mary Carillo and administrator Marshall Happer.

The inductees will be revealed in November, while Nadal and Djokovic have not yet been nominated, though their days will surely come in the future.

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"I always say it's wonderful to be part of that selective group," Federer said about the so-called Big Three in a 2021 interview with The Associated Press.

"How can you compare? What's better? To win when you're old or when you're young? I have no idea, you know. Is it better to win on clay or grass? Don't know. Is it better to have super dominant years or come back from injury? I don't know. It really is impossible to grasp."

Federer's streak of five consecutive US Opens came to an end in the 2009 final with a five-set defeat to del Potro. Since then, no man has managed to win two in a row at the tournament.

Del Potro, who was just shy of 21 at the time, seemed set for a stellar career, largely due to his powerful forehand. However, a string of wrist and knee injuries hindered the Argentine.

Kuznetsova claimed major singles trophies at the 2004 US Open and 2009 French Open, and doubles victories at the Australian Open in 2005 and 2012. She reached No. 2 in the WTA singles rankings and No. 3 in doubles, and was part of three championship wins with Russia in the competition now known as the Billie Jean King Cup.

Kuznetsova won 18 tour-level events in singles and 16 in doubles.