Goran Ivanisevic forced to wait to be inducted into International Tennis Hall of Fame 

Goran Ivanisevic (Photo credit: Tom Hevezi/Press Association/PIXSELL)

ZAGREB, 16 May 2020 – When Goran Ivanisevic is involved there seems to be no easy way. There was a delay when he won his first and only Grand Slam and now his induction to the International Tennis Hall of Fame has been delayed.

In January, Ivanisevic became the first Croatian ever to be elected in the International Tennis Hall of Fame and this July the induction ceremony was set to be held in Newport, Rhode Island.

On Friday, the International Tennis Hall of Fame announced that as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Class of 2020 Induction Ceremony will not take place and will now be held in 2021. 

There is one silver lining, Ivanisevic will now be inducted on the 20th anniversary of his famous Wimbledon.

“If anyone thought for a second I would do something the easy way. We’ll ace it next year,” Ivanisevic said on social media. 

Along with Ivanisevic, fellow Wimbledon winner Conchita Martinez was also elected and will be inducted next year.

“This is a huge honour. I am proud and humbled to become the first-ever Tennis Hall of Famer from Croatia,” Ivanisevic said after he was elected. “I am grateful to the committee for selecting me for this honour and so thankful to the fans who supported me in the Fan Vote and throughout my entire career, especially so many great fans in Croatia. I am honoured and excited to become a Hall of Famer.”

“Croatia’s Goran Ivanisevic’s serve-and-volley style of play led him to great success on the grass courts of Wimbledon where he was a quarterfinalist once, semifinalist twice, and finalist three times, before winning the title in 2001. That year, ranked world No. 125, the big-serving lefty was granted a wildcard into the tournament. In a magical run to the trophy, he knocked out three players who were former or future world No. 1s en route to a five-set battle with Patrick Rafter in the final. Ivanišević is a two-time Olympic medalist, having won a singles bronze and doubles bronze, both in 1992,” the International Hall of Fame said.

Ivanisevic and Martinez will be the 258th and 258th members of the International Hall of Fame.