5-time main champion and former world No. 1 Maria Sharapova and Bob and Mike Bryan, essentially the most profitable males’s doubles pairing in historical past, have been named to the Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Fame’s Class of 2025 on Thursday.
They are going to be inducted Aug. 23 on the Corridor of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, following a three-day celebration and associated actions.
In an announcement, Kim Clijsters, the Corridor’s president and a member of the 2017 Corridor of Fame class, praised the trio for his or her careers and achievements.
“Past every of their historic accomplishments on the court docket, the Class of 2025 have had such a profound impression on the sport of tennis and have impressed a number of generations of followers the world over,” Clijsters stated. “We look ahead to celebrating them in Newport subsequent 12 months.”
Sharapova, 37, is certainly one of 10 girls to attain the profession Grand Slam. Probably the most recognizable gamers on tour for a lot of her profession, Sharapova was Forbes’ highest-paid feminine athlete on the planet for 11 consecutive years as a consequence of her earnings on the court docket and numerous endorsement offers.
She wrote on X that she was “extremely grateful” to be a Corridor of Famer and thanked her followers.
Extremely grateful to obtain this honor. 🤍 An enormous thanks to The Corridor of Fame, and to all of the voters. Most significantly, this recognition is such a ravishing reminder of the deep appreciation I’ve for my followers. Every certainly one of you made me attain for the celebs ✨ and have a look at what… https://t.co/vRNp0JqR77
— Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) October 24, 2024
Sharapova’s popularity and marketability suffered following the announcement of a failed take a look at for a banned substance in 2016, and he or she was suspended from the game for 15 months. She returned to competitors in April 2017 and received her final title on the Tianjin Open that October. She retired in February 2020.
She received 36 titles total and claimed an Olympic silver medal whereas representing her native Russia in 2012. Sharapova held the world’s high rating on 5 separate events for a mixed 21 weeks. She was ranked within the high 5 for 408 weeks.
An identical twins and California natives Bob and Mike Bryan, 46, received 16 main titles, 4 ATP Finals and 119 total titles collectively. The Bryan brothers held the No. 1 doubles rating for 438 weeks, together with a streak of 139 weeks from February 2013 to October 2015. They held the year-end high rating 10 instances, earned Olympic doubles gold in 2012 and bronze in 2008, and helped lead the US staff to Davis Cup victory in 2007.
Mike, older than Bob by two minutes, received two extra main doubles titles and the year-end ATP Finals alongside Jack Sock in 2018 when Bob was sidelined with damage, placing Mike atop the listing for many all time. Each brothers earned a number of combined doubles trophies — Bob with seven and Mike with 4 — all through their 22-year profession. They retired collectively in August 2020.
In an interview this week with ESPN, Bob stated they’d have “simply fallen over” in shock if somebody had informed them as tennis-loving youngsters that they’d someday find yourself within the Corridor of Fame.
“It was nothing we ever even placed on our aim listing,” Bob stated. “It is virtually too unattainable for a younger child to consider that, and we at all times simply beloved what we did. I feel that is what drove us thus far, and it allowed us to play tennis for therefore lengthy. It was by no means actually work or sacrifice for us.
“… It is an extremely particular feeling simply because all of our idols and so most of the legends of the sport are in there, and to be included in a home that holds these names is wonderful for us.”
Mike informed ESPN that individuals started mentioning to them the potential for the 2 in the end being Corridor of Famers as soon as they broke Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde’s document for many titles collectively (61), but it surely wasn’t one thing both was targeted on throughout their careers.
“We considered ‘The Woodies’ document like climbing Mount Everest. It was such a milestone, however we might nonetheless type of shrug it off when individuals would say, ‘Oh someday you could be in Newport,'” Mike stated. “However as soon as we put our rackets down and actually had the prospect to look again on our physique of labor, we thought it’d stack up when the vote got here in 5 years. Then it was behind our minds.”
The 2 have been excited to be taught that they had been nominated in August. Earlier this month, whereas Mike and his household have been staying with Bob and his household in South Florida after evacuating their Tampa Bay-area dwelling throughout Hurricane Milton, each brothers obtained a textual content message asking whether or not they may attend a Zoom name later that day.
Sitting side-by-side in Bob’s workplace, they knew it was excellent news as quickly as they noticed Clijsters’ smiling face on the display screen. Clijsters informed them they have been formally a part of the 2025 Corridor of Fame class, alongside Sharapova, somebody whom they’ve recognized since she first got here on tour.
“She’s completed nice issues for the game, and nice issues off the court docket, so to be on this class together with her is particular,” Mike stated.
Bob stated they have been trying ahead to spending time with Sharapova throughout the lead-in occasions and to have a proper event to thank everybody who helped them alongside the way in which.
“We retired throughout the pandemic, and we by no means actually had an opportunity to thank all of those folks that performed an enormous half in our profession,” Bob stated. “We simply type of sailed off into the sundown and by no means put a bow on the entire journey. So we will attempt to get as many individuals collectively as attainable and simply inform them how appreciative we’re and that that is their second too.”