Roger Federer, one of the most decorated players in tennis history, will receive the sport’s highest honor next year when he is inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. The Rhode Island-based Hall announced Wednesday that Federer, 44, was elected in his first year of eligibility, recognizing a career with 103 ATP titles second only to Jimmy Connors’ 109 in the Open era and cemented his status among the sport’s all-time greats.

Federer was the first man to capture 20 Grand Slam singles titles, he helped define an era alongside Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. His accomplishments stretched across a 24-year career, during which he set numerous records. He won a record eight Wimbledon singles titles, six Australian Opens, five US Opens, and one Roland Garros title, completing the career Grand Slam. Federer won his first major at Wimbledon in 2003 and surpassed Pete Sampras’ then record of 14 Grand Slam titles by winning Wimbledon again in 2009. His 20th major came at the 2018 Australian Open.

Beyond the majors, Federer’s resume included 103 tour level titles and 1,251 match wins, trailing only Connors in both categories among Open era men. He dominated the ATP Rankings for years, spending 310 total weeks and a record 237 consecutive weeks at World No. 1. He finished as the year end No. 1 five times (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009). Federer also won 28 ATP Masters 1000 titles, contributed to Switzerland’s 2014 Davis Cup win, and won Olympic doubles gold in 2008 with Stan Wawrinka.

Federer’s Grand Slam total was eventually surpassed by Nadal (22) and Djokovic (24), but his influence on tennis remained unmatched. He played his final match at Wimbledon in 2021, just shy of his 40th birthday, and announced his retirement the following year. His final appearance came at the 2022 Laver Cup, an event organized by his management company, where he partnered with Nadal in double match.