Daniel Nestor to be inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame

12-time Grand Slam champion to receive the Order of Sport alongside five other athletes, two builders and one trailblazer

Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame has announced that Daniel Nestor will be inducted as part of their Class of 2024 and receive the Order of Sport, Canada’s highest sporting honour, this October.

“I feel truly blessed to be part of the 2024 Hall of Fame class representing tennis,” said Nestor. “It’s a thrill to be mentioned in the same sentence as this year’s inductees and to now join the ranks formed  . For me this recognition is the highest honour an athlete can achieve in our country so I’m very appreciative to have been chosen.” 

Gavin Ziv, Tennis Canada’s CEO, commented: “Daniel has been a pioneer and ambassador for tennis in Canada, paving the way for future generations. His illustrious career has given us unforgettable moments over the years. This honor is truly well deserved.”

The six-foot-three left-hander had an exceptional career on the ATP circuit for over 28 years. He reached No. 1 in the world doubles rankings for the first time in 2002 and maintained that status for a total of 108 weeks. In 2000, alongside Sébastien Lareau, Nestor made history for Canada by winning gold at the Sydney Olympics, the first and only Olympic medal for the Canadian tennis team to date.

Nestor also became the first man in tennis history to win all of the sport’s major titles, including all four Grand Slam tournaments, the ATP Masters 1000 events, ATP Tour Finals, and the Olympics. During his exceptional career, he won 91 doubles titles and is considered one of the greatest doubles players of all time.

His extraordinary achievements have earned him numerous honours, including the Order of Canada in 2010, a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame the following year and induction into the Canadian Tennis Hall of Fame in 2018. He also received an honorary degree from York University in Toronto in 2012.

Nestor retired in 2018. However, his commitment to tennis remains intact, as evidenced by his initiative to share his expertise through an online doubles training course, launched in 2023.

The Class of 2024 will receive the Order of Sport and be formally inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame on October 23, at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec during the 68th Annual Order of Sport Awards, presented by Everest.