It was never a question of “if”—only “when.” That moment arrived on a beautiful Saturday night in Newport, Rhode Island, as Roger Federer, alongside former pro player and renowned sports broadcaster Mary Carillo, was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame (ITHF). It was the kind of honor that anyone who had watched his remarkable career knew was inevitable, sooner or later.

Tennis fans turned out in record numbers to celebrate both Carillo and Federer. Hundreds watched the ceremony in the ITHF’s historic Horseshoe Court, while thousands more gathered nearby on the grounds for a massive watch party. The event capped off several days of festivities at the Hall of Fame, including Friday night’s Fit for Fame Blazer Presentation Dinner, where the newest honorees received their custom Brooks Brothers blue blazers, complete with the ITHF racket logo on the pocket.

For those wondering, “Why Newport?”—the ITHF is housed in the former Newport Casino athletic complex, which helped establish the national reputation of the architectural firm McKim, Mead & White. Beyond being the center of Newport’s social scene from the Gilded Age through the 1920s, the site hosted the earliest lawn tennis championships in the United States. In 1954, it became the home of the ITHF, which features an eye-opening museum, public courts (both indoor and outdoor, on grass and other surfaces), and one of the country’s rare court tennis facilities. The Horseshoe Court also hosted the early years of the Newport Jazz Festival, including Bob Dylan’s legendary performance with Joan Baez in 1963.

Minutes before the ceremony began, Federer—following in the footsteps of many Hall of Famers like John McEnroe and Stan Smith, as well as skiing legend Lindsey Vonn, a friend of his—greeted the crowd at the watch party and even took a few questions. When one father asked the 20-time Grand Slam champion for advice on encouraging and preparing his four-year-old daughter for a stellar tennis career, Federer replied with a deadpan expression: “Four—isn’t that a bit late? I started at three. I think the train has already left the station.”

Moments later, at a private reception upstairs in the ITHF’s grand headquarters, surrounded by his wife, Mirka, their two sets of twins, and close friends, Federer was his usual self—relaxed, confident, humble, and impeccably dressed in a tan suit, white shirt, and navy tie—though he admitted he was “kind of nervous.” He smiled and said goodbye as we found our seats on the grass court.

Carillo’s induction came first, with the legendary Billie Jean King doing the honors. Carillo’s speech was both touching and hilarious, as she shared her origin story in tennis. She grew up a few blocks from her childhood friend McEnroe in Douglaston, Queens (the two won the mixed doubles title at the French Open together in 1977 before knee injuries pushed Carillo into broadcasting). When she was six, she won a local fishing contest, and as her prize, she could choose between a new fishing rod or a tennis racket. She picked the tennis racket because she thought she could use it to catch crabs in nearby Little Neck Bay. The rest, of course, is history.

Then came Federer’s turn, with Mirka—herself a former pro player—introducing him. “When we met, he had exactly zero titles,” she said. “Zero. In those early days, I would sometimes even help warm him up on the court before his matches. I still remember Andy Roddick saying, after losing to Roger around that time, ‘I can’t believe I lost to a guy whose girlfriend warms him up.'” Roddick—and the rest of the crowd—burst into laughter.

Then Mirka grew more serious. “The trophies and records are extraordinary, but they’re only part of his legacy. What makes me even prouder than Roger’s accomplishments when the world was watching is who he is when nobody’s watching.”

Federer, clearly moved by his wife’s heartfelt tribute, and perhaps aMoved by the occasion, he began his speech a bit hesitantly, but soon found his rhythm, speaking sincerely and thanking those who had supported him along the way. “This is the Hall of Fame,” he said, “but fame was never my goal. My goal was to spend my life doing something I loved with people I loved.”

He recalled his earliest excitement on the court—working as a ball boy at the pro tournament in Basel, Switzerland, and seeing the action up close. (Then, in true Federer style, he thanked every ball kid who had ever worked his matches.) He talked about playing mini tennis on a court he and a childhood friend drew with chalk on the ground, hitting softballs back and forth “deep into the night,” and how, when he started playing tennis seriously, “that word ‘play’ says a lot—we played tennis. Yes, it takes work and practice, but the sense of play always carried me through, and when work and play blended together, that was the best feeling of all. When I turned pro, I didn’t see myself as a professional athlete; I saw myself as a tennis player.”

As the speech continued, tears kept coming—again and again. At one point, Federer stepped away from the microphone, wiped his eyes, and, just after someone in the audience shouted “We love you, Roger,” said, “I need tissues and sunglasses—I need everything to protect me now.” Then, glancing at his notes, he added, “Oh my God—now we’re getting into the Mirka part… this is such a mess.” He laughed, stepped back, wiped away more tears, and then paid a heartfelt tribute to his wife and the mother of his children, ending with “she and I grab hands and run through walls.”

“I tried above all to stay true to myself, and I tried to show my love of the game… I’ve always wanted people to see how great it feels to play this sport, to have a ball hit hard at you, the way it spins, the sound it makes, the way it bounces. How the geometry shifts as the ball moves toward you, and how the court itself opens or shrinks. Tennis is a complex and beautiful thing, and it’s spectacular to watch… [and] as you know, there’s a lot of pressure in tennis—a volcano of pressure, a volcano of emotion. When the match was over, win or lose, you probably saw what I was feeling inside. What can I say—tennis meant the world to me.”

As his remarks wound down, Federer said simply: “I’m still writing my love letter to tennis. My time as a player is done, but tennis will always stand at the intersection of everything I care most about.” Finally—just before more tears—he ended with: “Thank you, all of you, for sharing the journey that brought us together.”

He disappeared into the crowd, into the arms of his friends, family, and fellow Hall of Famers.

Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about Roger Federers Hall of Fame induction ranging from the basics to more detailed questions

General Background

1 When and where was Roger Federer inducted into the Hall of Fame
He was inducted on July 22 2024 at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport Rhode Island

2 Why was the ceremony described as both sad and happy
It was a celebration of his incredible career but it also marked the official and final farewell to his professional playing days Federer himself admitted it felt like a graduation and was emotional

3 Who presented Federer for induction
His longtime rival and friend Rafael Nadal gave the induction speech They shared several emotional moments on stage

4 Did he get a special award or just a plaque
He received the standard Hall of Fame induction honor which includes a commemorative plaque and a blazer However the ceremony also featured a special oncourt interview and a QA session with fans

Career Eligibility

5 Why was he eligible for induction in 2024
The Hall of Fame has a rule that players must be retired from professional tennis for at least five years Federer played his last official match at the Laver Cup in September 2022 making him eligible for the 2024 class

6 What were his main career achievements that got him in
He won 20 Grand Slam singles titles held the World No 1 ranking for a record 310 weeks and won 103 ATP singles titles He also won an Olympic gold medal in doubles

7 Is he the only player inducted in 2024
No he was the headline inductee but he was joined by other tennis figures including former World No 1 and 7time Grand Slam champion Justine Henin

The Ceremony Emotions

8 What did Federer say in his speech
He spoke about his gratitude for the sport his family and his rivals He specifically thanked Nadal Djokovic and Murray calling them the greatest rivals and best friends He also joked about his own crying during the ceremony

9 Was Rafael Nadals speech emotional
Yes