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Melbourne - Former world No 1 players Kim Clijsters and Andy
Roddick headlined the International Tennis Hall of Fame's list of 2017
inductees announced on Monday.
Belgium's Clijsters, bolstered by a powerful baseline game
and remarkable defensive skills on court, captured 41 singles titles during her
career, including four grand slam titles.
"It is a huge honour to be among a list of so many
great tennis players who I admired when I was growing up, and some great
players who I played with in my tennis career as well," Clijsters said in
a statement released by the Hall of Fame.
A dedicated Fed Cup team member who led her country to a
first title in 2001 and into the finals again in 2006, Clijsters also won
doubles titles at the French Open and Wimbledon and was the world's No 1 player
for 19 weeks.
She first retired from tennis in 2007 but returned to the
sport in 2009 and, in only her third tournament back, won that year's U.S Open
as an unseeded and wild card entry.
Roddick, known for his fast and powerful serve, held the
world No 1 ranking for 13 weeks and won his only grand slam title at the 2003
US Open.
A three-time runner-up at Wimbledon, Roddick won 32 career
singles titles and was a dedicated member of the US Davis Cup effort, including
in 2007 when he was instrumental in leading his team to victory over Russia.
"I love this sport and I love being part of it,"
said Roddick. "I'm moved to know that my presence in the sport will be
forever part of tennis history."
The Class of 2017 will be officially inducted on July 22 at the Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.
