Australian six-time world champion and Paralympic gold medallist inducted into ITF Hall of Fame

Davd Hall secured six Paralympic medals during his career as well as being crowned ITF world champion six times ©ITF

Australia's Paralympic gold medallist and six-time International Tennis Federation (ITF) wheelchair tennis world champion David Hall has been inducted into the ITF Hall of Fame.

The ceremony took place in Newport, Rhode Island, home to the ITF Tennis Hall of Fame.

Hall became the fourth wheelchair tennis player to be inducted after The Netherlands' Chantal Vandierendock and the American duo of Brad Parks and Randy Snow.

Hall, who started playing wheelchair tennis at 19 after losing his legs in a car accident three years earlier, expressed his delight at receiving the honour and spoke about the huge impact that the sport has had on his life.

"Through those early days, after my accident, tennis was like a long-lost friend who had come back to me,” he said.

“Tennis has given me more than I could ever repay, it took me in directions I never imagined.

“It took me to faraway lands, forging friendships, and experiencing different cultures.

“It gave me a purpose, a direction, it filled me up when I needed it and rewarded me with great joy when I worked for it.”

Hall was inducted in the recent player category just six months on from having a bronze bust in his likeness unveiled at Melbourne Park's Garden Square in Australia, as he was inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in recognition of his superb career, which came to an end in 2006 following his retirement from the sport.

David Hall was also inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in January at the Australian Open ©Getty Images

One of the highlights of his career was the gold medal he claimed in front of a home crowd at Sydney 2000, one of six medals Hall claimed at the Paralympic Games during his career.

The now 45-year-old also claimed men's singles silver and bronze medals at Atlanta 1996 and Athens 2004, while he also secured a silver and two bronze medals in the doubles across the three Games.

Hall also was crowned at the ITF world champion on six separate occasions between 1995 and 2004, but he revealed he is still surprised at the success he enjoyed throughout his career.

“I never dreamed I could be as successful as I was, when people recite my career stats, I still find it hard to comprehend,” he said.

“I had goals and I worked as hard as I could to reach them, I don't think of myself as special or extraordinary,

"I'm just a kid from Budgewoi who loved to hit balls that was blessed to be surrounded by great people."

Hall was also joined in being inducted into the Hall of Fame by France’s Amelie Mauresmo, winner of the French Open and Wimbledon women's singles titles in 2006, who is now the coach of two-time men's Grand Slam winner Andy Murray.

Additionally Nancy Jeffett, a long-time tennis industry leader was also inducted in recognition of her lifetime commitment to growing the sport, particularly in areas of women's professional tennis and developing junior tennis.