By Randy Walker
@TennisPublisher
As a tennis historian and publisher, I always have my eye on if a player is worthy of induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
If a player wins two major singles titles, to me, they are pretty much an inductee. If a player wins one major, then an array of other factors come into play that would determine entry into this elite group of tennis players that are honored and revered in Newport, Rhode Island. The criteria for singles players and doubles players are certainly different and for a doubles player or specialist to be considered for induction, they would have to win many major doubles titles just for starters. For singles players, after winning at least one major, these criteria would be as follows:
- Number of runner-up showings at majors
- Number of doubles majors won
- World No. 1 or highest career ranking
- Number of singles titles and doubles titles
- Davis Cup or Billie Jean King Cup (former Fed Cup) titles
- Olympic medals
- Longevity and consistency and popularity
So, with that in mind, let’s look at the case for Marin Cilic of Croatia.
While Cilic won only one major singles title to date (the 2014 U.S. Open, defeating Roger Federer in the semifinals and Kei Nishikori in the final), he has played in two other major finals, Wimbledon in 2017 and the Australian Open in 2018, losing to Federer both times.
He has reached at least the semifinals of all the majors with his “at least” semifinal finish at Roland Garros in 2022. Only ten men in the Open Era have reached all four major singles finals (Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall, Ivan Lendl, Stefan Edberg, Jim Courier, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray – all Hall of Famers)
Cilic has won 20 ATP singles titles (which is nine more than Hall of Famer Patrick Rafter won, and one fewer than a one Slam Hall of Famer Goran Ivanisevic won and two more than another one-Slam Hall of Famer Michael Stich.)
Cilic has helped Croatia win the Davis Cup in 2018.
At the Olympics, Cilic won a silver medal in doubles with Ivan Dodig at the 2020 Games.
So, with that resume so far, does Cilic deserve to be in the International Tennis Hall of Fame?
Perhaps the most famous, predominantly singles players, who have won only won major title who are in the Hall of Fame are…
Michael Chang (1 major, 3 major runner-ups, 34 titles, one Davis Cup, No. 2 career high)
Goran Ivanisevic (1 major, 3 major runner-ups, 22 titles, one Davis Cup, Olympic bronze, No. 2 career high)
Conchita Martinez (1 major, 2 major runner-ups, 33 titles (13 doubles) 5 Fed Cups, 3 Olympic medals, No. 2 career high ranking)
Yannick Noah (1 major, (1 doubles major) 0 major runner-ups, 23 titles, (16 doubles), No. 3 career high in singles, No. 1 in doubles)
Manuel Orantes (1 major, 1 major runner-up, 36 titles (22 doubles), No. 2 career high in singles
Andy Roddick (1 major, 4 major finals, 32 titles, 1 Davis Cup, No. 1 career high in singles
Michael Stich (1 major, 2 major runner-up, 18 titles, Olympic gold in doubles, 1 Davis Cup, No. 2 career high ranking
