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Serena Williams has not been included on this year’s International Tennis Hall of Fame ballot after making a sensational return from retirement. The 23-time Grand Slam champion “evolved away” from tennis at the 2022 US Open. But she re-entered the anti-doping pool late last year – a requirement for any retired player who wishes to make a comeback – and returned to action at London’s Queen’s Club this summer. Williams has since played several doubles matches and also lost a close three-set singles match to Maya Joint at Wimbledon. It now remains to be seen whether she continues competing into 2027.
The International Tennis Hall of Fame states that a player cannot have been a ‘significant factor’ on the tour for at least five years before they can be inducted. Given that Williams returned this year, she may now have to wait until at least 2031 to be considered for the Hall of Fame ballot, potentially later if she continues playing.
And former world No. 1 Andy Roddick has now hit out at the Hall of Fame regulations, suggesting it would be outrageous to wait years to recognise Williams’ achievements and legacy. “I know it’s supposed to reset the clock,” he said on his podcast, Served.
“Are we saying that if she plays another year, we’re going to wait for Serena to get into the Hall of Fame? Let’s say she plays through next year. So we’re going to wait until 2033 when Serena is like 50 to put her into the Hall of Fame? Bulls***.
“The 2031 is if she played her last match right now. She says she’s playing next year. Let’s assume we take her at her word, and so it restarts then. No way. The Hall of Fame is one of the most special places on earth. You have to go. Go to an induction, see what it means to these players.”
Players shortlisted for the Hall of Fame ballot each year must receive at least 75 per cent of the vote to be inducted. And Roddick added: “If you get a unanimous yes, I don’t care how long you’ve been retired.
“Who would have actually cared if Serena came back right now and was already in the Hall of Fame? Who would say, ‘That’s wrong, that doesn’t make any sense’. No one!”
The ballot for the 2027 International Hall of Fame has been unveiled, with Ash Barty, Juan Martin del Potro, and Svetlana Kuznetsova nominated for player recognition. Roger Federer appeared on the ballot last year and was inducted during a ceremony at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport this summer.
Although Federer retired at the 2022 Laver Cup, playing one final doubles match alongside Rafael Nadal, he had not been a significant factor on the tour since 2021. He played his last official match at Wimbledon that summer, losing in the quarter-finals, and then shut down his season to have a third knee surgery in two years.
The Swiss star never officially returned to competition again, only popping back up at the Laver Cup to say farewell to professional tennis.
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