Sharapova, Bryan Brothers on the Ballot for 2025 Tennis Hall of Fame

Maria Sharapova of Russia celebrates after she won the women's final match against Ana Ivanovic of Serbia during the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Jan. 10, 2015. (AP)
Maria Sharapova of Russia celebrates after she won the women's final match against Ana Ivanovic of Serbia during the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Jan. 10, 2015. (AP)
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Sharapova, Bryan Brothers on the Ballot for 2025 Tennis Hall of Fame

Maria Sharapova of Russia celebrates after she won the women's final match against Ana Ivanovic of Serbia during the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Jan. 10, 2015. (AP)
Maria Sharapova of Russia celebrates after she won the women's final match against Ana Ivanovic of Serbia during the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Jan. 10, 2015. (AP)

Maria Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam singles champion, and the doubles team of brothers Mike and Bob Bryan are on the ballot for International Tennis Hall of Fame’s class of 2025.

Daniel Nestor, a 12-time major doubles champion from Canada, also returns to the ballot that was announced Tuesday.

Sharapova is one of 10 women to complete the career Grand Slam, winning her first major at Wimbledon in 2004 at 17. The Russian twice won the French Open, captured titles at the US Open in 2006 and Australian Open in 2008, reached No. 1 in the WTA rankings and spent 408 weeks in the top 5.

The Bryans teamed for 16 major titles, the 2012 Olympic gold medal and a record 438 weeks atop the doubles rankings. Mike Bryan is the career leader with 18 Grand Slam doubles titles, winning a pair with Jack Sock while his twin brother was injured in 2018.

Nestor won eight doubles and four mixed doubles major titles, along with the Olympic gold medal in 2000.

The class will be announced in October and enshrinement weekend is set for Aug. 21-23, 2025.



Zelenskiy Lauds Champion Usyk’s Perseverance in Victory over Fury in Riyadh

 Boxers Britain's Tyson Fury, right, and Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk compete during their WBA, WBO, and WBC world heavyweight title fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP)
Boxers Britain's Tyson Fury, right, and Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk compete during their WBA, WBO, and WBC world heavyweight title fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP)
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Zelenskiy Lauds Champion Usyk’s Perseverance in Victory over Fury in Riyadh

 Boxers Britain's Tyson Fury, right, and Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk compete during their WBA, WBO, and WBC world heavyweight title fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP)
Boxers Britain's Tyson Fury, right, and Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk compete during their WBA, WBO, and WBC world heavyweight title fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy hailed Oleksandr Usyk's victory over Tyson Fury to retain the WBA (Super), WBO and WBC world heavyweight titles in Riyadh, saying the boxer embodied the fighting spirit of Ukrainians.

Undefeated Usyk, who took Fury's WBC belt in their first bout in May, beat the British two-time world champion in the rematch by unanimous decision, handing him the second loss of his professional career.

"Victory! So important and so needed by all of us right now," Zelenskiy, who had led Ukraine in its war with Russia since Moscow invaded its neighbor in 2022, wrote on X.

"By defending his championship belt, Oleksandr Usyk proves: we are Ukrainians and we will not give up what is ours! No matter how hard it gets - we will overcome everything.

"Whether it is in the ring, on the battlefield or in the diplomatic arena - we will fight and we will not give up what is ours! Congratulations on your victory, Cossack! Congratulations on your victory, Ukraine!"

Former world champion Wladimir Klitschko, who enlisted in the Ukrainian military reserves before Russia's invasion, was at the Kingdom Arena to witness Usyk's victory.

"Ukraine is fortunate to have you. You're a true standard-bearer of our resilience... glory to Ukraine," Klitschko wrote on X.