Well, this will come as no surprise to anyone who’s paid any attention over the past quarter-century: Roger Federer was elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, the Rhode Island-based Hall announced Wednesday.

The first man to win 20 Grand Slam singles titles, and part of an era of unprecedented greatness with rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic — during what Federer termed “a golden time for tennis” — he was the only candidate to receive enough support in the player category for the Hall’s class of 2026.

Players can be considered after five years away from the tour and need to be selected by 75% of the voting group, which includes tennis media, historians, industry leaders, members of the Hall and fans. The Hall does not reveal voting results

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