by Randy Walker
@TennisPublisher
Great minds think alike and while Maria Sharapova and the Bryan Brothers are no-brainer inductees into the International Tennis Hall of Fame Class of 2025, I am in agreement with great tennis minds Chris Clarey, former New York Times tennis writer, Greg Sharko, the former ATP Tour stats and communications guru, and long-time tennis writer Sandra Harwitt that Canadian Daniel Nestor should have been included as well. All three posted on X, the social network formerly known as Twitter, that Nestor should have also received the nod for induction in Newport, Rhode Island. Nestor, from Canada and who was also on the ballot, did not get enough votes to garner induction from the Hall of Fame nominating committee. (Who is on that anyway?)
The first thing that came to mind is that Nestor was a doubles specialist and this comes one year after another doubles specialist of the same era, Leander Paes, was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Let’s compare the stats of the two all-time greats and you can make your own decision.
DANIEL NESTOR
91 career doubles titles
8 major men’s doubles titles
4 major mixed doubles titles
1 Olympic Gold Medal
4 ATP Finals titles
28 Masters 1000 titles
World No. 1 for 108 weeks
LEANDER PAES
55 career doubles titles (40 percent less than Nestor)
8 major men’s double titles (same as Nestor)
10 major mixed doubles titles (six more than Nestor)
1 Olympic Bronze Medal (Nestor got a gold in doubles, Paes won Bronze in singles)
0 ATP Finals titles (Nestor won this 4 times)
13 Masters 1000 titles (15 less than Nestor won)
World No. 1 for 39 weeks (69 fewer weeks than Nestor)
