Justine Henin, Marat Safin Lead 2016 Hall Of Fame Nominees; Yevgeny Kafelnikov Not To Be Found

by Staff | October 23rd, 2015, 3:15 pm

12 Comments

Former No. 1s Justine Henin and Marat Safin were both on the shortlist of potential inductees into the class of 2016 at the Tennis Hall of Fame, it was announced today.

Former Czech great Helena Sukova was also nominated along with past champions Yvon Petra Margaret Scriven.

Notably absent is Safin’s countryman Yevgeny Kafelnikov who was not nominated.

The inductees will be announced early next year. Wisdom is Henin and Safin are both shoe-ins to get in. Kafelnikov, who beat Hall of Fame head Todd Martin en route to his 1999 Australian Open title, will have to wait another year.

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12 Comments for Justine Henin, Marat Safin Lead 2016 Hall Of Fame Nominees; Yevgeny Kafelnikov Not To Be Found

chris ford1 Says:

Henin is a shoo-in, no question. But the vagaries of the whole voting system and some bias against E Europeans and Russians mean many of those players are not even nominated, while comparable or even inferior talents/careers, to those that the HOF voter’s inner circle liked.

Kafelnikov is exhibit #1 of the bias.
Gold medal at the OLympics, led Russia to the Davis Cup Title. Two singles Slams. 4 doubles Slams. Twice as many Tour wins as many inductees.

October 23rd, 2015 at 8:03 pm

Emily Says:

They really can’t induct Safin and have this not highlight Kafelnikov’s absence, if people hadn’t noticed already

October 24th, 2015 at 6:41 am

Ben Pronin Says:

I thought the reason they’re avoiding Kafelnikov is because he plays pro poker now? Dumb reason but that’s what I heard.

October 24th, 2015 at 9:56 am

Wog Boy Says:

As long as Michael Chang is hall of famer since 2008 with one GS and that is about..no other big titles, not even in doubles, never reached #1 either and Kafelnikov has 2GS titles, Olympic Gold Medal, four GS doubles titles and was #1 in the world.

October 24th, 2015 at 10:28 am

Wog Boy Says:

From what I read he played poker in 2005, not now, he is employed as tennis commentator for Russian TV.

October 24th, 2015 at 10:39 am

jalep Says:

Hall of Fame = subjective as a figure skating judge. Often makes no sense. Don’t pay much attention to it the judging or halls of fame. Do love figure skating, though.

But I like Henin and Safin. Not sure the Eastern European/Russian bias can be held where females are concerned in as an appalling a way as for males. See, a card carrying feminist thinks about equality for men as well. Guessing criteria to get in is very slippery indeed.

October 24th, 2015 at 11:59 am

jane Says:

Safin…awwww

October 24th, 2015 at 2:13 pm

RZ Says:

Can’t see Henin not getting the nod. Safin would probably be in too.

October 24th, 2015 at 6:07 pm

roy Says:

”As long as Michael Chang is hall of famer since 2008 with one GS”

lol, that’s hall of fame ‘person of color’ edition.

must prop up the persons of color and think about future asian market! globalism 101.

don’t worry, tsonga is a sure thing for the hall of fame after his GS runner up at the AO, beating nadal on the way.

as for safin, he was always overrated. he was mainly a pin up playboy who created headlines and ticket sales. just a slightly more talented roddick.

October 25th, 2015 at 6:24 am

Alexandra Says:

It’s pretty sure Kafelnikov won’t get in anymore. Why I have no idea. It’s certainly not about tennis achievements.

October 25th, 2015 at 10:08 am

jane Says:

i wonder why too. kafelnikov should be in.

October 25th, 2015 at 2:12 pm

Docpops Says:

Ben Pronin, that would be a really dumb reason and would that be the reason to disqualify Rafa from consideration also, since he played poker in tourneys and advertises the game? I hardly think so, but then again, some of the biases in tennis are well known.

October 27th, 2015 at 12:03 pm

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