Li Na, Mary Pierce, Yevgeny Kafelnikov to be inducted into International Tennis Hall of Fame
January 22, 2019 – Chinese tennis great Li Na, France’s Mary Pierce, and Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia, each a two-time Grand Slam singles champion among their many career accolades, have been elected to receive tennis’ ultimate honor in 2019 – induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Li Na, China’s first global tennis star, reached the world No. 2 ranking and was a champion at both the French Open and the Australian Open. Pierce is a former world No. 3 in singles and doubles, and four-time major champion, having won a singles title at the Australian Open, singles and doubles titles at Roland-Garros, and a mixed doubles title at Wimbledon. In addition to his two major singles titles, Kafelnikov is a former world No. 1, Olympic Gold Medalist, and the winner of four major doubles titles.
The new inductees will be celebrated tomorrow in a special ceremony in Rod Laver Arena at the Australian Open, joined by many other Hall of Fame tennis legends who will gather to welcome them for the first time as Hall of Fame inductees.
In becoming Hall of Famers, Na, Pierce, and Kafelnikov join an elite group of just over 250 individuals hailing from 23 nations who have received the honor, which recognizes their careers as being among the most accomplished and impactful in the history of tennis. The three are being inducted in the Player Category. This is not a year of eligibility for the Hall of Fame’s other two categories – Contributor and Wheelchair.
“It’s a pleasure to congratulate Li Na, Mary Pierce, and Yevgeny Kafelnikov, and to welcome them into the International Tennis Hall of Fame,” stated Hall of Fame President Stan Smith. “They are three incredibly hard-working athletes who set and achieved goals at tennis’ highest levels. This is a well-deserved honor, and we look forward to celebrating them as Hall of Famers in Newport in July.”
ABOUT THE CLASS OF 2019
LI NA
Li Na, China’s first great tennis star, won two Grand Slam tournament singles titles, reached a ranking of world No. 2, and, as a result, was responsible for a dramatic shift in the level of interest in tennis in China.- 2011 French Open Champion
- 2014 Australian Open Champion
- Won 9 singles titles
- Career Singles record 503-188
- More than 116 million people in China tuned in to watch her French Open final in 2011, and participation and interest in the sport has soared since her playing days.
YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV
Former world No. 1 Yevgeny Kafelnikov was Russia’s first-ever major singles champion. In 1996 he won the French Open singles title, and also partnered with Daniel Vacek to win the doubles title that year. No man since has won the singles and doubles titles at the same major.- Former world No. 1 in singles
- Won 26 singles titles and 27 doubles titles
- 1996 French Open Singles Champion
- 1999 Australian Open Singles Champion
- 4- time Major Champion in Doubles (three at Roland-Garros, one at the US Open).
- 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist
- 2002 Davis Cup Champion
MARY PIERCE
Four-time major champion Mary Pierce won singles titles at the Australian Open and Roland-Garros, as well as a doubles title at Roland-Garros and a mixed doubles title at Wimbledon. She was also a singles finalist four times at Grand Slam tournaments.- Won 18 singles titles and 10 doubles titles.
- Won 1995 Australian Open without losing a set.
- In 2000 won both the singles and doubles titles at Roland Garros.
- In 2005, Pierce returned to the French Open final, falling to Justine Henin.
- Career high of world No. 3 in both singles and doubles
- Member of two championship Fed Cup teams.
INDUCTION CEREMONY
The Class of 2019 will be officially enshrined on July 20, during Hall of Fame Weekend at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.
New for 2019, ticket packages for Hall of Fame Weekend, inclusive of the Induction Ceremony and other special events, are on sale now on tennisfame.com/enshrinement. Individual Induction Ceremony tickets will go on sale on February 1.
