(NEWPORT, R.I.) — Five-time major champion and former world No. 1 Maria Sharapova and Bob and Mike Bryan, the most successful men’s doubles pairing in history, were named to the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 on Thursday.
They will be inducted Aug. 23 at the Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, following a three-day celebration and related activities.
In a statement, Kim Clijsters, the Hall’s president and a member of the 2017 Hall of Fame class, praised the trio for their careers and achievements.
“Beyond each of their historic accomplishments on the court, the Class of 2025 have had such a profound impact on the game of tennis and have inspired multiple generations of fans across the world,” Clijsters said. “We look forward to celebrating them in Newport next year.”
Sharapova, 37, is one of 10 women to achieve the career Grand Slam. One of the most recognizable players on tour for much of her career, Sharapova was Forbes’ highest-paid female athlete in the world for 11 consecutive years due to her earnings on the court and various endorsement deals.
Sharapova’s reputation and marketability suffered following the announcement of a failed test for a banned substance in 2016, and she was suspended from the sport for 15 months. She returned to competition in April 2017 and won her last title at the Tianjin Open that October. She retired in February 2020.
She won 36 titles overall and claimed an Olympic silver medal while representing her native Russia in 2012. Sharapova held the world’s top ranking on five separate occasions for a combined 21 weeks. She was ranked in the top five for 408 weeks.
Identical twins and California natives Bob and Mike Bryan, 46, won 16 major titles, four ATP Finals and 119 overall titles together. The Bryan brothers held the No. 1 doubles ranking for 438 weeks, including a streak of 139 weeks from February 2013 to October 2015. They held the year-end top ranking 10 times, earned Olympic doubles gold in 2012 and bronze in 2008, and helped lead the United States team to Davis Cup victory in 2007.
Mike, older than Bob by two minutes, won two additional major doubles titles and the year-end ATP Finals alongside Jack Sock in 2018 when Bob was sidelined with injury, putting Mike atop the list for most all time. Both brothers earned multiple mixed doubles trophies — Bob with seven and Mike with four — throughout their 22-year career. They retired together in August 2020.
In an interview this week with ESPN, Bob said they would have “just fallen over” in shock if someone had told them as tennis-loving children that they would one day end up in the Hall of Fame.
“It was nothing we ever even put on our goal list,” Bob said. “It’s almost too unattainable for a young kid to think about that, and we always just loved what we did. I think that’s what drove us to this point, and it allowed us to play tennis for so long. It was never really work or sacrifice for us.
“… It’s an incredibly special feeling just because all of our idols and so many of the legends of the game are in there, and to be included in a house that holds those names is amazing for us.”
Mike told ESPN that people began mentioning to them the possibility of the two ultimately being Hall of Famers once they broke Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde’s record for most titles together (61), but it wasn’t something either was focused on during their careers.
“We thought of ‘The Woodies’ record like climbing Mount Everest. It was such a milestone, but we would still kind of shrug it off when people would say, ‘Oh one day you might be in Newport,'” Mike said. “But once we put our rackets down and really had the chance to look back on our body of work, we thought it might stack up when the vote came in five years. Then it was in the back of our minds.”
The two were excited to learn they had been nominated in August. Earlier this month, while Mike and his family were staying with Bob and his family in South Florida after evacuating their Tampa Bay-area home during Hurricane Milton, both brothers received a text message asking whether they could attend a Zoom call later that day.
Sitting side-by-side in Bob’s office, they knew it was good news as soon as they saw Clijsters’ smiling face on the screen. Clijsters told them they were officially part of the 2025 Hall of Fame class, alongside Sharapova, someone whom they have known since she first came on tour.
“She’s done great things for the sport, and great things off the court, so to be in this class with her is special,” Mike said.
Bob said they were looking forward to spending time with Sharapova during the lead-in events and to have a formal occasion to thank everyone who helped them along the way.
“We retired during the pandemic, and we never really had a chance to thank all of these people that played a big part in our career,” Bob said. “We just kind of sailed off into the sunset and never put a bow on the whole journey. So we’re going to try to get as many people together as possible and just tell them how appreciative we are and that this is their moment too.”
Jannik Sinner of Italy celebrates a point against Taylor Fritz of the United States during their Men’s Singles Final match on Day 14 of the 2024 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 08, 2024. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
(NEW YORK) — Italian Jannik Sinner defeated American Taylor Fritz in straight sets in the U.S. Open men’s final on Sunday.
It was the first time Sinner, the world’s No. 1, has won the title, and the first time an Italian man has won the U.S. Open.
Sinner defeated the California native in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, 7-5. This was the first time either player made it to the finals of the U.S. Open.
Sunday’s win is also Sinner’s second Grand Slam title this year after winning the Australian Open in January.
Sinner’s road to victory had been marred by a doping scandal that resulted in points and prize money deductions rather than a ban. It was disclosed late this summer that Sinner had tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid Clostebol, which he claims he encountered after his fitness trainer treated an injury on Sinner’s physiotherapist, who later worked on the player, leading to the trace amount in a test result.
The revelation all but cast a cloud over a banner year in which he won five singles titles, including the first Grand Slam title of the year.
Sinner told ABC News after the match that he was comfortable on the court despite facing criticism leading into the tournament.
“I was just happy to compete,” Sinner said while holding the championship trophy.
Sinner called the saga a very tough moment for his team but maintained, “They know what, what happened and what I’ve done, which is I haven’t done anything wrong.”
Despite the criticism from some players, Sinner said he could sense the enthusiasm from the packed Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd.
Sinner found support from fans who flocked to see the final in the most well-attended U.S. Open in history. According to the United States Tennis Association, more than one million people attended the U.S. Open throughout its three-week run.
“They gave me so much energy, especially in moments where I was struggling and also today, this final, you know, playing against American and it was such a fair crowd,” the 23-year-old Italian said.
The audience was also peppered with celebrities, including Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, Olympian Noah Lyles, Martha Stewart and Bad Bunny.
For Fritz, Sunday’s tournament came on the heels of an all-American semifinal on Friday, where he beat American Frances Tiafoe. Fritz walked on court to Sunday’s final as the first American man to see a Grand Slam final since Wimbledon 2009, where Andy Roddick competed. Roddick was also the last American man to win the U.S. Open title in 2003.
In his post-match press conference, Fritz reflected on what he described as a “really tough match.”
“I didn’t, definitely didn’t hit the ball as well as I expected to,” Fritz said, adding, “That’s just kind of how it goes when you’re playing, you know, he’s the best player in the world right now.”
The 26-year-old got choked up as he described the pressure leading into Sunday night’s match.
“I feel like the fans, obviously, American fans, [have] been wanting a men’s champion for a long time, and I just, I don’t know, I’m pretty upset with how I played. I feel like, I don’t know, I feel like I almost let a lot of people down,” Fritz said.
Fritz said his body had rested since the five-set match against fellow countryman Tiafoe. “I didn’t feel anywhere near as nervous going into this match as I did in the semis. So I thought emotionally, you know, it’s obviously the U.S. Open final, I want to win it, it’s a really big moment. But I felt like emotionally I was going to be OK,” he said.
