August 29, 2026 had been on my calendar since February 11, 2026. Every year around this time, I’m typically planning my annual US Open trip during Labor Day weekend. Over 15 years of traveling through LaGuardia to hopefully see some of my favorite players compete in the final Grand Slam of the calendar year. Navigating the grounds, scheming meals during lower crowd times, deliberating on a souvenir, and holding my breath as I refresh the schedule of play the evening before, hoping that an icon would be slated to play during my ticketed session.
It used to be much different. Roger Federer had captivated my family’s attention since I first picked up a racquet around the age of 9. We’d often purchase day and night session tickets for the same day, two days in a row, just to ensure we’d be able to attend at least one of his matches in Flushing Meadows during our trip. Even from the final rows of Arther Ashe Stadium, his one-handed backhand and seemingly effortless footwork moved the crowd of thousands, almost like he was performing for your party alone. Once he exited the Tour in 2022 and no longer appeared in the draws, we still booked our routine flights to NYC each August, but our urgency to attend every season decreased, even though the incredible level of tennis remained the same.
When Federer once again reappeared on our radar, albeit for a different occasion, we didn’t flinch for a moment at the opportunity to see him on another global stage. Nominated as an inductee to the Tennis Hall of Fame, Federer would momentarily reignite the attention of millions who, like me, reminisced on the days when his name and home flag of Switzerland would appear on the scorebug in the bottom left of our TVs.
At 10:00:00am on February 11, 2026, I logged into the ticketing site for the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Not realizing the magnitude of the event at the time, I secured four tickets, checked out with ease, and circled August 29, 2026 on my calendar before moving on with my day. Several minutes later, I refreshed Instagram and saw that tickets had sold out in moments, and hundreds of Federer fans in the comments were extremely displeased with the drop, and understandably so. It was at 10:05am that day when it finally sunk in: I would have the opportunity of a lifetime to witness history and the greatest honor in tennis for a man many considered their hero. Unlike the US Open which occurs annually, the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony for Roger Federer would only happen one time, and I would be a part of the historic occasion.
Fast forward to August 2026, and the anticipation began rising. I’d never traveled to Newport, Rhode Island nor seen the International Tennis Hall of Fame venue aside from a few photos. It had always drawn my attention; the grass courts, the history, the prestige. And now, I was seeing it for the first time during a historic celebration.
Arriving to Newport felt different than entering the gates of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Knowing that in just a few hours, we would witness one of the greatest players of all time walk across the stage to accept the award that only a select few hold felt like an honor on its own. The part that did feel like another day at the Open was this: a schedule for the day that included various events leading up to the 6:30pm ceremony, a nod to the moment the lights would dim in Ashe before Federer’s entrance onto center court.
The Induction Celebration included various activities around the grounds, including access to the museum, merchandise stations, food trucks, activations on the grass courts, and brushing shoulders with others who notably also had been touched by Federer throughout his 24-year career.
Our tickets included access to the Watch Party, which began with a red carpet celebration introducing about a dozen other former Hall of Fame inductees. The party began by honoring Mary Carillo, the evening’s other inductee whose lists of journalistic accomplishments spoke for themselves. While Roger captivated fans with his play, Carillo, touched hearts with her storytelling. The final name announced to walk across the stage was none other than Federer himself, who took the time to address the crowd and answer several fan-submitted questions, his charisma and professionalism once again on display.
About 30 minutes later, and the actual Ceremony began just several hundred feet away from our seats in the Watch Party stadium. Billie Jean King introduced Carillo before she accepted her much-deserved honor. Mirka Federer introduced her husband with a moving speech that set the emotional tone for the next half hour. The way she spoke about Federer revealed what we all assumed: the way he was perceived on court was exactly the type of man he was behind the scenes. Following their embrace, Federer then took the podium to thank his team over the past two decades, tell stories about his career, express his gratitude to his family, and recall stories and memories that included his early days in Basel through some of his most monumental highlights. Both Mirka and Roger himself left the crowd with damp eyes as their personal anecdotes and expressions of appreciation brought all of us along for their journey while recounting the years through their eyes.
As the evening concluded, and the crowd departed through the Hall of Fame’s exit, there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that the experience I had just had would be forever engrained in my mind. There are some matches that you’ll never forget where you were when they ended, and the Hall of Fame ceremony just secured a similar slot in my memory that I hope to carry with me for decades to come.
If you’re a tennis enthusiast with an appreciation for the beautiful sport, I would highly suggest a visit to Newport’s International Tennis Hall of Fame. And, if you do visit the grounds, we’d love to hear your thoughts via a review on their TRO profile. Check out their full listing here.
