Let’s rectify a Hall of Fame error of omission
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As a member of the ITHF Official Voting Group, I received the International Tennis Hall of Fame ballot today. Unlike in some previous years, this time the decisions about the candidates were easy. I voted for Bob and Mike Bryan. Combining for a team record 16 major titles, the Californian twins formed the greatest men’s doubles team in history. I also voted for Maria Sharapova, who captured five Grand Slam singles titles, coming on all three surfaces—grass, hard, and clay.
Lastly, Canadian doubles star Daniel Nestor made history as the first player to win all four majors, all of the Masters 1000 events, an Olympic gold medal, a Davis Cup title, and the ATP Tour Finals, a feat equaled years later only by the Bryan brothers. All told, Nestor captured eight Grand Slam doubles titles—three times each with Mark Knowles and Nenad Zimonjić and twice with Max Mirnyi—and was a finalist nine times.
In mixed doubles, the low-key, 6’4” lefty was a four-time major champion—twice with Kristina Mladenovic, and once each with Elena Likhovtseva and Katarina Srebotnik. Nestor’s elite-level consistency produced 91 doubles titles during his 28-year career.
What’s not to admire about Nestor’s superb doubles record?
Although I’ve proudly voted for Daniel for three straight years, not enough other voters have, and thus he failed to reach the 75% needed for induction. This is year 3 of a possible 3-year ballot term, his last year of eligibility.
Frankly, I’m dismayed and disappointed by those voters who didn’t deem Nestor’s terrific doubles record worthy of Hall of Fame inclusion. Players such as Andy Roddick and Mal Anderson have made the ITHF with just one major singles title. Is the great event of doubles considered so unimportant by some purported “experts” that it takes more than eight times as many doubles majors—plus other outstanding results, most notably an Olympic gold medal—to get into the Hall of Fame? That makes no sense!
It’s not too late to rectify this clear injustice. If you’re a fan, your fan vote counts. The top three vote-getters in the Fan Vote will receive bonus percentage points on their score.
- Winner of Fan Vote: 3 percentage points
- 2nd Place in Fan Vote: 2 percentage points
- 3rd Place in Fan Vote: 1 percentage point
That means if Daniel falls slightly short with 72%, 73%, or 74%, he can still get into the ITHF with your votes.Also, if you know other ITHF Official Voting Group members, lobby them to vote for Nestor. Their vote will also be a vote for fairness for doubles stars.
