Sonya Jeyaseelan and Rene Simpson to be inducted into the Canadian Tennis Hall of Fame

Tennis Canada announced Sunday that Sonya Jeyaseelan and Rene Simpson, two former players who have made significant impacts on the sport in Canada, will be inducted into the Canadian Tennis Hall of Fame at a dinner in their honour on October 20, 2011 at the Granite Club in Toronto.

“Rene and Sonya are so deserving of induction into the Hall of Fame and it is fitting to see them enter the Hall together,” said Hatem McDadi, Vice-President, Tennis Development, Tennis Canada. “They both had exceptional careers highlighted by their patriotic spirit and passion for the sport. We really look forward to honouring their achievements this fall during the official induction dinner as their contribution to tennis in Canada has been impactful on many levels.”

To this day, Jeyaseelan (Toronto) remains Canada’s highest-ever ranked junior player, hitting No. 2 on the ITF rankings. She was a finalist at the 1994 Junior French Open, where she fell to Martina Hingis. As a pro, Jeyaseelan twice advanced to the third round of Slams, and reached her career-high of No. 48 on the WTA rankings in December 2000. Among her best wins is a straight-sets victory over then-world No. 6 Venus Williams at Amelia Island in 1999.

“This is a huge honour to be able to be recognized for the achievements I made playing tennis for Canada,” Jeyaseelan said. “To be a part of the Hall of Fame induction inspires me to want to give back more to the tennis community in Canada as well. I am very blessed and humbled to be a part of a great list of Canadian champions.”

Simpson (Sarnia, Ont.) made her biggest contribution to Canadian tennis as part of the country’s Fed Cup squad. Not only does she own a 20-16 record in the team competition, where she was a regular player throughout the 1990s, she also served as Canada’s Fed Cup captain from 2001 to 2009. Among her accomplishments is leading the team to a World Group II berth in 2007. As a pro, Simpson reached a career-high of No. 70 in April 1989 and advanced to the third round of Roland Garros that same year.

"I am honoured to be inducted into the Canadian Tennis Hall of Fame,” Simpson said. “Tennis has been a huge part of my life and I am truly humbled to be recognized as one of Canada’s best. It is extra special for me to receive this award alongside Sonya as many of my most memorable moments came on the doubles court with her. I look forward to sharing this special evening with Sonya and my family.”

In conjunction with Jeyaseelan and Simpson’s induction, a virtual Canadian Tennis Hall of Fame museum has been launched on LoveMeansNothing.ca. The virtual museum features bios and photos of every Hall of Fame inductee, and will be an accessible home for Canadian tennis fans to learn more about the people who have shaped the country’s tennis history. Each member of the Hall of Fame, dating back to the first induction in 1991, will have their own page and photo gallery.