Maria Sharapova and the Bryan brothers are elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame

Maria Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam singles champion known for plentifulness of on-court grit and off-court attention, and Bob and Mike Bryan, twins who won a grounds 16 awesome titles successful men's doubles together, are first-ballot selections for nan International Tennis Hall of Fame.

The Newport, Rhode Island-based Hall announced nan Class of 2025 connected Thursday.

Sharapova won astatine slightest 1 title astatine each of her sport's 4 astir prestigious events, making her 1 of 10 women successful tennis history to complete a profession Grand Slam, and she was nan first Russian female to scope No. 1 successful nan WTA singles rankings. She retired successful 2020 astatine property 32 aft a profession that included 15 years successful nan spotlight, a 15-month doping ban and aggregate operations connected her correct shoulder.

In a connection posted connected societal media, Sharapova called herself “incredibly grateful to person this honor.”

The Bryan brothers besides compiled a profession Grand Slam and spent 438 weeks astatine No. 1 successful nan ATP doubles rankings. They won a golden badge astatine nan 2012 London Olympics and helped nan United States triumph nan 2007 Davis Cup title; Bob is presently nan skipper of nan American team that will spell to Malaga, Spain, for adjacent month's finals to compete for nan country's first triumph successful that title since then.

Mike Bryan — he’s right-handed, and his relative is simply a lefty — is nan profession leader pinch 18 awesome men’s doubles trophies overall; he sewage 2 pinch Jack Sock while Bob was injured successful 2018.

“We are genuinely humbled and grateful to person this honor. Though making it to Newport was ne'er our goal, being included among truthful galore of our idols and domiciled models is incredibly special,” Bob Bryan wrote successful a matter connection to The Associated Press connected Thursday. “Mike and I proceed to beryllium champion friends, and we consciousness fortunate to person been capable to thrust this tennis rollercoaster together.”

Sharapova became an instant prima erstwhile she won her first awesome title astatine Wimbledon successful 2004 astatine property 17 by beating Serena Williams successful nan final, past collected nan trophies astatine nan U.S. Open successful 2006, nan Australian Open successful 2008 and nan French Open successful 2012 and 2014.

Sharapova helped Russia triumph nan squad title now known arsenic nan Billie Jean King Cup successful 2008, and she claimed a metallic badge successful singles astatine nan 2012 Olympics, losing to Williams successful nan final.

All nan while, Sharapova earned millions of dollars much successful endorsement deals than prize money.

“There are a mates of sides of me,” Sharapova said successful an question and reply pinch nan AP successful 2006, soon earlier she won nan title astatine Flushing Meadows. “There’s nan Maria that’s a tennis player. There’s nan Maria that is simply a normal girl. And there’s nan Maria who’s a businesswoman. And that’s wherever nan ‘Maria Sharapova brand’ comes into play.”

At nan 2016 Australian Open, Sharapova tested affirmative for nan recently banned supplier meldonium and initially was handed a two-year suspension. After appealing to nan Court of Arbitration for Sport, Sharapova was fixed a reduced punishment erstwhile it was wished that she bore “less than important fault” successful nan lawsuit and could not “be considered to beryllium an intentional doper.”

The Bryans and Sharapova will beryllium inducted successful August.

“We are thankful to truthful galore group who supported america on nan way, and we look guardant to sharing this infinitesimal pinch them adjacent year,” Bob Bryan wrote. ”Our parents created a magical situation astatine their nine and made tennis nosy for us. They helped america autumn successful emotion pinch nan game, truthful tennis ne'er felt for illustration work; it was ever play."

Daniel Nestor, a Canadian who won 12 Grand Slam titles successful men’s aliases mixed doubles, did not person nan 75% of nan ballot required to suffice for nan Hall successful balloting among members of nan media, historians, Hall of Fame members, manufacture experts and fans. This was his 3rd — and last — twelvemonth arsenic a candidate.

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Howard Fendrich has been nan AP’s tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: https://apnews.com/author/howard-fendrich

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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis