Clijsters, Roddick in Hall of Fame contention

Former world number ones Kim Clijsters of Belgium and Andy Roddick of the United States were among nominees announced Thursday for 2017 induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Also placed on the ballot for consideration next year were Paralympic champion Monique Kalkman, 52, a noted 1990s Dutch wheelchair player, and contributors Vic Braden, an instructor who died in 2014 at age 85, and Steve Flink, a journalist and historian.

“Kim Clijsters and Andy Roddick are two incredibly dynamic athletes who certainly left their mark on tennis history,” said Hall of Fame president Stan Smith.

Voting will take place later this year with inductees announced early next year and enshrinement set for July of 2017 at the Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.

“I’m very honored,” said Clijsters, a four-time Grand Slam singles champion. “The women who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame are great champions who I have always admired. It’s an honor to be considered to be part of that incredible group of athletes.”

Clijsters, 33, spent 19 weeks atop the rankings and is among only six women to rank atop singles and doubles. She won the US Open in 2005, 2009 and 2010 and the 2011 Australian Open. She won 41 career singles titles.

“I’m incredibly honored to be considered for the Hall of Fame,” said Roddick, the 2003 US Open champion. “I put my all into our sport for many years and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to compete with some of the best athletes tennis has ever known, many of whom were idols I looked up to all my life.”

Roddick, 34, spent 13 weeks atop the world rankings, including as the 2003 year-end world number one. He won 32 career singles titles and helped the Americans win the 2007 Davis Cup title.