Olympic alpine skiing champion Lindsey Vonn traded the start gate for grass courts this weekend, joining tennis royalty at the International Tennis Hall of Fame as Roger Federer and Mary Carillo were honored in the Class of 2026.
Vonn appeared Friday at the Hall of Fame Celebrity Pro Classic presented by Fidelity Investments, the exhibition that opened induction weekend on the historic courts of the Newport Casino. Organizers announced in advance that the American ski legend would kick off the event from the umpire’s chair. She later stepped onto the court herself, competing in the celebrity-and-legends format alongside Grand Slam champions.
After the session, Vonn posted a lighthearted assessment of her first assignment as an official: “First time as an umpire… not sure is something I’m good at but we had a blast.” She also said it was a privilege to win a few points against established champions, including two-time major winner Garbiñe Muguruza. Vonn worked parts of the day with Hall of Famer Arantxa Sánchez Vicario and appeared on court in all-white tennis attire.
The Friday exhibition featured a rare collection of former world No. 1s and Hall of Famers, including Federer, John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova, Bob and Mike Bryan, Stefan Edberg, Lleyton Hewitt, Gabriela Sabatini and Sánchez Vicario. Television personality Joey Graziadei and comedian-turned-player Michael Kosta also took part. Federer’s formal induction, along with Carillo’s in the contributor category, followed Saturday evening.
Vonn’s appearance underscored a long-standing crossover between the ski champion and tennis. She has attended major finals and maintained friendships across the sport; ATP stars including Novak Djokovic publicly supported her after the crash that ended her 2026 Olympic downhill. Six months later, her presence in Newport marked another public step in a recovery that has already included a return to cycling and gym work.
The Hall of Fame framed the weekend as both celebration and reunion. For Vonn, it was a first in a different uniform: part official, part competitor, and, by her own account, an amateur umpire who still left the grass smiling.
