Kevin Anderson

An NCAA doubles champion in 2006, a five-time All-American and the leader of an Illinois squad that reached the team final in 2007, Kevin Anderson pieced together an impressive resumé during his three seasons with the Illini before a successful run on the ATP Tour. The 6-foot-8 Anderson played professionally for 16 years, reaching as high as No. 5 in the ATP world rankings. He won seven career singles titles, reaching the finals of the 2017 U.S. Open and 2018 Wimbledon before ending his career with an overall singles record of 356-255. To reach the finals of Wimbledon, Anderson had to beat old rival and fellow 2026 Hall of Fame nominee, John Isner. More than a decade prior, Anderson fell in the 2007 NCAA team final to Isner at No. 1 singles. Here in the Wimbledon semis, the two met again in what was the second-longest Grand Slam match ever, with Anderson prevailing in a thriller (7-6, 6-7, 6-7, 6-4, 26-24). At Illinois, Anderson and partner Ryan Rowe won the 2006 NCAA doubles title. The following year, Anderson and Rowe were back in the final in addition to his appearance in the singles semifinals. He was a three-time First-Team All-Big Ten player and the 2007 Big Ten Player of the Year.