Serena Williams has not been included on the International Tennis Hall of Fame ballot for this year, leaving the winner of 23 Grand Slam titles facing a delayed entry following her return to competition.

The 2022 US Open Retirement and the Anti-Doping Clock

Williams officially stepped away from professional tennis at the 2022 US Open, an event that typically triggers the countdown toward Hall of Fame consideration. Under International Tennis Hall of Fame regulations, a player must not be a significant factor on the professional tour for a minimum of five years before becoming eligible for induction. However, Williams re-entered the anti-doping testing pool late last year—a mandatory step for any retired athlete wishing to play competitive matches again—and returned to the court this summer at Queen’s Club in London.

Following her appearances in several doubles matches, she entered Wimbledon, where she lost a three-set singles match to Maya Joint. Because tournament appearances restart the inactivity clock under current organizational rules, Williams may now have to wait until at least 2031 to be considered for the Newport-based institution, with that timeline extending further if she continues playing.

Andy Roddick Criticizes Hall of Fame Rules

Andy Roddick sharply criticized the rulebook during an episode of his podcast, Served, arguing that delaying recognition for Williams makes little sense.

“I know that is supposed to reset the clock,” Roddick said on the podcast. “Are we actually saying that if she plays one more year, we’re going to wait for Serena to get into the Hall of Fame? Let’s say she plays next year. So then we’re going to wait until 2033, when Serena is roughly 50 years old, to induct her into the Hall of Fame? What nonsense.”

Roddick pointed out that candidates must secure at least 75 percent of the vote from the voting body to earn induction, suggesting that unanimous support should override strict waiting periods for athletes of historic stature. “If you get a unanimous yes, I don’t care how long you’ve been retired,” Roddick said. “Who would have cared if Serena came back right now and was already in the Hall of Fame? Who would say, ‘That’s wrong, that doesn’t make sense’? Nobody.”

The 2027 Ballot and Roger Federer Precedent

The International Tennis Hall of Fame announced its 2027 candidate list featuring Ash Barty, Juan Martín del Potro, and Svetlana Kuznetsova. The selection process highlights contrasting timelines for recent greats of the sport.

Roger Federer appeared on the ballot last year and was inducted during a ceremony in Newport this summer. Federer retired at the 2022 Laver Cup by playing a final doubles match alongside Rafael Nadal, but he had not maintained a significant tour presence since 2021. His last official singles match came at Wimbledon that summer, where he reached the quarterfinals before ending his season to undergo his third knee surgery in two years. The Swiss great never returned to official competition after that summer, limiting his subsequent appearances strictly to his farewell at the Laver Cup.

Williams has played five doubles matches since her comeback, including pairings with her sister Venus. It remains unconfirmed whether Williams will continue competing in 2027.