Roger Federer elected into the International Tennis Hall Of Fame

NEW YORK, Nov 18: Roger Federer, who held the No. 1 spot in the PIF ATP Rankings for 310 weeks during his illustrious career, has been elected into the International Hall of Fame in the Class of 2026.

The Swiss legend won 103 tour-level titles, second only to Jimmy Connors (109). Federer lifted 20 major trophies and earned 28 ATP Masters 1000 crowns.

“It’s a tremendous honor to be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame and to stand alongside so many of the game’s great champions,” Federer said. “Throughout my career, I’ve always valued the history of tennis and the example set by those who came before me. It was very special to receive the news at Swiss Tennis, surrounded by the next generation of players — the place where my own journey first began.

“To be recognized in this way by the sport and by my peers is deeply humbling. I look forward to visiting Newport next August to celebrate this special moment with the tennis community.”

Federer was notified of his election by fellow Hall of Fame members in a call that included Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker, two players who helped inspire the Swiss superstar.

Federer owns the record for most consecutive weeks at World No. 1 at 237 from February 2004-August 2008. He earned ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours five times, received the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award 13 times, and was named ATP Fans' Favourite for a record 19 consecutive years from 2003-21.

The Class of 2026, which also includes sportscaster and journalist Mary Carillo (Contributor Category), will be officially inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame during the Induction Celebration in Newport, Rhode Island from 27-29 August 2026.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi blasts 15 sixes in 32-ball century; enters world record books again

DOHA, Nov 14: 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi hit his fastest T20 century off 32 balls in his debut for India A in the Rising Stars Asia Cup 2025 Group B match against UAE at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium, Doha, on Friday.

Hours before the start of the game, Vaibhav Suryavanshi was swamped by fans for autographs and selfies but the young teenagers from Bihari politely refused them as he wanted to focus on the game.

It can now be said with a fair amount of certainty that those fans would not have had a single iota of disappointment after the kind of show Vaibhav Suryavanshi put on.

Vaibhav hit the joint second fastest T20 century by an Indian, equalling Rishabh Pant, who had hit a 32-ball century against Himachal Pradesh in a Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 match in 2018.

The fastest T20 century by an Indian jointly belongs to Urvil Patel, who smashed a T20 century off 28 balls against Tripura last year, and Abhishek Sharma (against Meghalaya). The world record stands with Estonia's Sahil Chauhan for his 27-ball century against Cyprus in 2024.

At 14 years and 232 days, Vaibhav became the youngest to hit a hundred for a men’s national representative side. He was also the only cricketer in the world to hit two T20 centuries in 35 balls or less.

Previously, Vaibhav Suryavanshi's fastest T20 century was in the IPL when he blasted a 35-ball hundred against the Gujarat Titans in Jaipur. He was the youngest to score a century in the IPL.

Vaibhav would have registered a golden duck if UAE captain Alishan Sharafu had held on to a simple catch at cover off the first ball of the match, bowled by Muhammad Farazuddin, but it wasn't to be. The Gods were on the young teenager's side and boy, did he make full use of it.

The dynamic left-hander hit as many as 15 sixes in his 42-ball stay in the middle to hammer 144 at a strike rate of 342.86. Not to forget the 11 fours that he hit. If you have managed to catch your breath, there's more. Suryavanshi was threatening to break Tilak Varma's record for the highest score in a T20 match by an Indian and also the world record by Chris Gayle when he was taken in the deep by Muhammad Farazuddin in the third ball of the 13th over.

He was extremely disappointed, as he often is when he gets dismissed. The Indian dugout gave the teenager a standing ovation as he was walking back for 144 off 42 balls - the fourth-highest score by an Indian in this format.

Thanks to his heroics with the bat, India A put on a mammoth 297/4 on the board, which was far too many for UAE, which could only manage 149/7 in reply.