Serena Williams left off International Tennis Hall of Fame ballot for 2027 despite being eligible as Ash Barty leads the way

Monday, 19 October 2026 at 11:13

Serena Williams smiles walking back from practice.

Serena Williams has been left off the ballot for the 2027 International Tennis Hall of Fame despite being eligible as such. The American initially retired in 2022, and given that it is a five-year period between retirement and then being on the ballot, she is not on it. But why?

The International Tennis Hall of Fame announced on Monday that the three players nominated were Ashleigh Barty, Juan Martin del Potro and Svetlana Kuznetsova. The latter two were already on last year's ballot and so returned again, having not got onto the Hall of Fame last time around, often crowded with other top names such as Roger Federer getting the nod.

But Williams' absence is more surprising given that the American had initially retired five years ago. But one thing changed the situation, and that was her deciding to head towards returning to competition in 2026.

Serena Williams falls foul in that a player must no longer be a significant factor on the ATP or WTA Tour for five calendar years before becoming eligible for induction. She ended her career in 2022, but her return to the sport in 2026 has likely pushed back her eligibility. As a result, her career, unlike the others on the list, cannot be seen as definitely over. A very different one to that of Ash Barty.

The ballot is set for the Class of 2027 🏆🎾 Ash Barty, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Juan Martín del Potro have been named to the ballot in the Player Category, with Shingo Kunieda in the Wheelchair Tennis Category. Learn more about the nominees: https://t.co/sHl15P2Lcm https://t.co/zXCcxSm00i
— International Tennis Hall of Fame (@TennisHalloFame) October 18, 2026

Retired since 2022, Barty heads into the ballot as the main star and the only one to meet the criteria of excellence for automatic inclusion into the ballot. She won three Grand Slam singles titles on three different surfaces. Roland Garros in 2019, Wimbledon in 2021 and the Australian Open in 2022.

She was also World Number One for 121 weeks, including 114 consecutive, and also won 15 singles titles as well as 12 doubles titles, so further ticks in the box.

Once on the ballot, they still have to get in, though. They must receive at least 75% of favourable votes from the official voting group, which includes journalists, historians, and Hall of Fame members.

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The fan vote can also add up to three bonus points: +3 for first place, +2 for second, and +1 for third. Kuznetsova and Del Potro have been nominated before, but they didn't get in last time because Federer was seen as the only candidate. Albeit that might happen again now with Barty.

Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief

Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.

Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.

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