By Alberto Amalfi | @Tennis_Now | Friday, September 13, 2024
Photo credit: Stephen White/CameraSport
The results are in: Maria Sharapova is the People’s Champion.
Former world No. 1 Sharapova won the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Fan Voting for the Class of 2025.
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The Hall of Fame received thousands of votes from tennis fans representing more 120 countries.
Sharapova received the most fans, twins Mike Bryan and Bob Bryan were second and Canadian doubles standout Daniel Nestor placed third in Fan Voting.
I am incredibly grateful to the fans all around the world who supported me during the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Fan Vote,” said Sharapova. “It is a tremendous honor to be considered for the Hall of Fame, and having the fans’ support makes it all the more special.”
Fan Voting is one of two steps in the Hall of Fame’s election process.
In addition to the Fan Vote, an Official Voting Group comprised of tennis journalists, historians, and Hall of Famers, vote on the Class of 2025 ballot.
By winning the Fan Vote, Sharapova will receive an additional three percentage points added to her vote total.
The Bryan Brothers will receive two additional percentage points, and Nestor one additional point.
To be elected into the Hall of Fame, a candidate must receive an affirmative vote of 75% or higher on combined results of the Official Voting Group and any bonus percentage points earned in the Fan Vote. Once voting is complete, the Class of 2025 will be announced in late October.
In 2005, Sharapova became the first Russian woman to achieve the world No. 1 ranking. Her five major singles titles began with her win at Wimbledon in 2004, followed by victories at the US Open in 2006, the Australian Open in 2008, and twice at Roland-Garros in 2012 and 2014.
During her nearly 20-year WTA career, Sharapova was also a member of Russia’s 2008 Fed Cup championship team and earned a silver medal in singles at the 2012 London Olympics. She held the world No. 1 ranking five times, was ranked in the top 5 for 408 weeks
