Clijsters, Roddick in tennis hall of fame

Former world No.1 tennis players Kim Clijsters and Andy Roddick headlined the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s list of 2017 inductees announced on Monday (Tuesday AEDT).

Belgium’s Clijsters, bolstered by a powerful baseline game and remarkable defensive skills on court, captured 41 singles titles during her career, including four grand slam titles.

“It is a huge honour to be amongst a list of so many great tennis players who I admired when I was growing up, and some great players who I played with in my tennis career as well,” Clijsters said in a statement released by the ITF’s hall of fame.

Roddick, known for his fast and powerful serve, held the world No.1 ranking for 13 weeks and won his only grand slam title at the 2003 US Open.

A three-time runner-up at Wimbledon, Roddick won 32 career singles titles and was a dedicated member of the US Davis Cup effort, including in 2007 when he was instrumental in leading his team to victory over Russia.

“I love this sport and I love being part of it,” Roddick said. “I’m moved to know that my presence in the sport will be forever part of tennis history.”

Roddick will join fellow 2017 inductee Monique Kalkman-van den Bosch, as well as tennis historian and journalist Steve Fink, who is being inducted in the contributor category, for a ceremony at Melbourne Park on Tuesday evening to celebrate the acknowledgement.

The Class of 2017 will be officially inducted on July 22 at the Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.

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