NEW YORK, October 19. /TASS/. Russia’s two-time Grand Slam winner in women’s singles Svetlana Kuznetsova has been nominated as a candidate for induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame (ITHF), the ITHF’s press service said in a statement on Monday.
"Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia is a four-time major champion, with two apiece in singles and doubles. She won singles titles at the 2004 US Open and 2009 Roland-Garros, and doubles titles at the 2005 and 2012 Australian Opens. She reached an additional two major finals in both disciplines," the ITHF’s statement reads.
"During her 15-year career, she won 18 WTA singles titles, 16 in doubles and reached career high rankings of No. 2 in singles and No. 3 in doubles. In nine years of representing Russia, Kuznetsova and her teams captured three Bille Jean King Cup titles," the statement added.
The other nominees for the International Tennis Hall of Fame are four-time major champion and former World No.1 Ash Barty of Australia, 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro and four-time Paralympic gold medalist and 28-time major singles champion Shingo Kunieda of Japan (Wheelchair Tennis Category).
"Fans around the globe can weigh in on which Player Category nominees are deserving of Hall of Fame induction during ITHF Fan Voting," according to the ITHF. "Following the Official Voting Group ballot tabulation, the Class of 2027 inductees and dates for the 2027 Induction Celebration will be announced later this fall."
Kuznetsova’s main rival Barty "is a former world No.1 and three-time major singles champion whose career was defined by versatility," the ITHF reports. "Her singles major victories spanned three surfaces, including 2019 Roland-Garros, 2021 Wimbledon, and the 2022 Australian Open. In doubles, she reached the finals of all four majors, winning the 2018 US Open title. Barty first reached world No. 1 in 2019, spending 121 total weeks at the top, including 114 consecutive weeks."
Kuznetsova, 41, retired from the sport in 2021. She won 18 WTA (Women Tennis Association) tournaments, the 2004 US Open and the 2009 French Open. She also owns two (in 2006 and 2012) Australian Open women’s doubles titles. Playing for the Russian national team, she is the winner of the 2004, 2007 and 2008 Fed Cup (renamed to Billie Jean King Cup in 2020).
The International Tennis Hall of Fame, located in Newport, Rhode Island, in the United States, was established in 1954. Three Russian tennis players have been inducted into the Hall of Fame since then -- Marat Safin in 2016, Yevgeny Kafelnikov in 2019 and Maria Sharapova in 2025.
According to the official website of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, "Induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame is the highest honor in the sport of tennis. Induction acknowledges an individual’s excellence in on court achievements and contributions to the growth of the sport."
Russian tennis players are currently participating in international tournaments under a neutral status without any exceptions.
Russian players’ neutral status at tennis tournaments
On February 28, 2022, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued recommendations to international sports federations to bar athletes from Russia and Belarus from taking part in international tournaments, citing Moscow's special military operation in Ukraine as the reason.
Following the IOC's recommendations in late February 2022, the majority of global sports federations moved to exclude athletes from Russia and Belarus from all international sports tournaments.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) ruled on March 1, 2022, to suspend the membership of the Russian and Belarusian national tennis federations while also canceling all previously scheduled tennis tournaments in the two countries.
On March 14, 2022, the ITF also confirmed its prohibition on the Russian and Belarusian national tennis teams from participating in the 2022 Davis Cup and the 2022 Billie Jean King Cup.