Roger Federer was officially inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame on August 29, 2026, in Newport, Rhode Island, marking a storied career that included 20 Grand Slam titles and a record eight Wimbledon championships. Despite the historic occasion, Federer’s longtime rivals Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal did not attend the ceremony. Djokovic was competing in his first-round U.S. Open match on the same day, while Nadal also was absent. Additionally, Swiss teammate Stan Wawrinka and fellow “Big 4” member Andy Murray were not present.

Though absent in person, Djokovic congratulated Federer with a heartfelt video message acknowledging Federer’s immense contributions to tennis and sportsmanship. Djokovic, who leads their head-to-head 27-23, praised Federer as a remarkable ambassador for tennis and expressed hope that Federer would enjoy his special celebration with family. Analytics and tennis historian Steve Flink noted that it is common for significant rivals not to attend each other’s Hall of Fame inductions, citing similar patterns among other legendary competitors like Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras.

Some of Federer’s contemporaries were on hand to honor him, including former Grand Slam finalists Andy Roddick, Marat Safin, and Lleyton Hewitt. Additionally, Gael Monfils and Grigor Dimitrov, players who shared memorable matches and personal moments with Federer, sent their congratulations. Monfils, who retires this year, recalled Federer’s influence on his career and friendship, while Dimitrov reflected on long-standing admiration both on and off the court.

Federer’s legacy is marked not only by his records—such as 310 weeks at world No. 1 and 237 consecutive weeks at the top ranking—but also by his impact on younger players. Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime and German Alexander Zverev lauded Federer’s role in inspiring new generations, both for his athletic accomplishments and character. Even Daniil Medvedev humorously thanked Federer for a past loss that helped Medvedev win his first Masters 1000 title. Federer’s induction caps a celebrated career that transformed tennis worldwide.