Women of
the Halls of Fame
National Tennis Hall of Fame
Eligibility Requirements & Nomination Process
Any individual nominated for induction into the Tennis Hall of Fame is considered based on his or her achievement in the game of tennis, as well as his or her conduct as an athlete. He or she must fit into one of three categories: Recent Player, Master Player, or Contributor. The hall has outlined certain criteria that an individual must meet in order to belong to one of these categories. Any players nominated must have an outstanding record, which includes having played and performed well at the international level.
In order to be accepted into the Recent Player Category, an athlete must have played professionally within the last 20 years and must have been a “significant factor on the ATP Tour or the WTA Tour within five years prior to election.” A board of tennis media from around the world get to decide whether nominees for the Recent Player category are accepted into the Tennis Hall of Fame. A player must receive at least three quarters of the board’s votes in order to be accepted for induction.
Players nominated for the Master Player category must have been retired from tennis for at least 20 years. They too must win three quarters of the vote from a panel, but a different group votes on this category. Nominees for the Master Player category are voted on by the International Masters Panel, which is comprised of current members of the Hall of Fame and “other individuals who are highly knowledgeable of the sport and its history.”