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Serena Williams is inarguably one of the greatest female tennis players of all time. With a staggering 23 singles Grand Slam titles, 14 doubles, four mixed doubles triumphs in Majors, and four Olympic golds, there is no denying the American’s greatness and inevitable induction into the Tennis Hall of Fame.
However, existing eligibility criteria for the fabled achievement prevent Williams from being inducted into the Hall of Fame. According to the official criteria, one criterion for the player category stipulates that a player must:
“Not [have been] 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).”
Considering that Williams contested in Grand Slams until retirement in 2022, even reaching the US Open final in 2019 and the semifinals the following year, the five-year period mentioned above has not passed for her, thereby making her currently ineligible to be inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame.
Meanwhile, five-time singles Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova has been elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s class of 2025 along with the Bryan brothers, the most successful men’s doubles team in history. The trio will officially be inducted at a ceremony in Rhode Island in late August next year.
Sharapova, a silver medalist at the 2012 London Summer Games, hung up her racket in 2020. The last time she made it beyond the first round of a Major was the 2019 Australian Open. With the five-year period having lapsed, the Russian is eligible to be inducted next year.
Following her induction, Sharapova took to X (formerly Twitter) to post a heartfelt message. She thanked her fans for voting for her and reiterated her gratitude for receiving this honor.
Sharapova wrote,
“Incredibly grateful to receive this honor. A big thank you to The Hall of Fame, and to all the voters. Most importantly, this recognition is such a beautiful reminder of the deep appreciation I have for my fans. Each one of you made me reach for the stars and look at what we have achieved together. Thank you”
There is no doubt Williams will eventually be inducted into the Hall of Fame, and it is just a question of when. The consensus among many commentators on the sport is that 2027 is when we can expect the record-breaker to join the greatest names to have graced the sport in the Hall of Fame.
The International Tennis Hall of Fame based in Newport, Rhode Island is all set to upgrade its hall for the first time since 2015, with the mythical Plaque Gallery receiving its first changes since 2008.
The $3 million renovation is set to double the museum’s exhibit space and revamp the gallery as well. This means it is likely to coincide, interestingly, with the future induction of the Golden Era greats. With the likes of Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Andy Murray having recently retired, it makes perfect sense that the hall is redesigned in time for the enshrinement of these greats of the game.
CEO Dan Faber spoke along similar lines in a press conference in June. He said (via nbcsports.com),
“When you think about this golden era of who’s going to be inducted coming up in the next five to 10 years, (it’s) perfect timing.”
Among the many upgrades, the most notable ones are the new displays for the inductees. The plaques on the wall are all set to be replaced by a lineup of markers, each with a golden tennis racket sporting the Hall’s logo. A replica of the racket itself is going to be given to all inductees.
