The 2013 International Tennis Hall of Fame inductees were announced this morning.
Martina Hingis, the five-time Grand Slam singles champion, is top of the 2013 class. She won 15 major titles, including 9 women’s doubles and 1 mixed. In 1996, Hingis became the youngest Grand Slam champion in tennis history. She was only 15 years and 9 months old. In 1997, at age 16 1/2, she became the youngest woman to become No. 1 in the WTA singles rankings. She spent 209 weeks in the No. 1 spot. That same year she won singles titles at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open and was the WTA Tour Player of the year and AP Female Athlete of the Year. She retired in 2007 (for the second time) after receiving a two-year suspension for testing positive for cocaine at Wimbledon. She denied taking the drug but didn’t appeal.
Cliff Drysdale, Charlie Pasarell, Ion Tiriac and Thelma Coyne Long have also been included.
Cliff Drysdale reached No. 4 during his 1960s – 1970s career. His contributions to the sport, however, were more important. He helped start the ATP men’s tour and served as its first president (1972-74). He has worked as an ESPN tennis announcer since it first began telecasting the sport (in 1979 at a U.S.-Argentina Davis Cup meeting).
Another key contributor who helped grow the sport of tennis, Charlie Pasarell was first a member of the U.S. Davis Cup team. He was also key in the beginning of the ATP and was long associated with Indian Wells, California. In 1967, Pasarell was the No. 1 player in the U.S. He won 18 singles titles and was part of the 1968 winning U.S. Davis Cup team. He is also remembered for being part of the longest match in Wimbledon history.
Ion Tiriac won the 1970 French Open men’s double title and has worked as a coach, player manager and tournament promoter. His most notable client is another Hall of Fame member, Boris Becker.
The International Tennis Hall of Fame ceremony will be held July 13 in Newport, R.I.
International Tennis Hall of Fame 2013 Inductees
