2026 NC Tennis Hall of Fame Reception, Dinner, & Ceremony

Please join the North Carolina Tennis Foundation on Saturday evening, January 31st, 2026 at the Carolina Hotel in Pinehurst as we proudly induct the 2026 Class into the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame!

Allen Farfour is set to be honored for his remarkable career as both a player and a coach. Farfour's journey began in the junior ranks, where he amassed an impressive collection of state and national titles, including eight North Carolina State Doubles Championships and a State Singles Championship by age 14. As a proud Wake Forest Demon Deacon, he played 4 years under legendary NC Tennis Hall of Fame Coach, Jim Leighton and was named MVP his senior year for his team leadership and winning ways. His adult career gave him the opportunity to consistently compete and defeat many top players and capture six NC Men's Open Doubles Championships, two Mixed Doubles Open Championships, and a victory in the Men's Singles Open Championships in 1983. Following days of competitive play he transtioned seamlessly into a distinguished coaching and teaching career as the Head Coach for the UNC-Wilmington Men's Team. He has held prominent roles as a teaching professional and tennis director at various clubs, including Porter's Neck Country Club in Wilmington and served, developed, and mentored talented players througout the Greater Wilmington area for over 30 years. Allen joins his father, John Allen, as one of only two fathers and son's to be inducted into the NC Tennis Hall of Fame.

John Isner, after a standout junior career in NC, established himself as a commanding force in collegiate tennis at the University of Georgia. A top national prospect, he quickly made his mark by winning the 2005 NCAA doubles title alongside partner Antonio Ruiz-Rosales. His leadership was instrumental in guiding Georgia to their 5th NCAA team championship in 2007. Isner’s collegiate career was capped by reaching the 2007 NCAA singles final and setting school records for most career doubles wins and tying Al Parker for most singles wins, finishing with an impressive 276 combined victories. As a professional, John reached a career-high ATP world ranking of No. 8 and secured16 ATP titles, including the prestigious 2018 Miami Open, an ATP Masters 1000 event. His professional journey is perhaps most famously remembered for his part in the longest Grand Slam match in history, a grueling 11-hour, 5-minute marathon at Wimbledon in 2010. He was ranked as the No.1 American in the year-end Pepperstone ATP Rankings for eight of nine years and remained in the year-end Top 20 for the entire decade of the 2010s. In 17 appearances from 2007-23, Isner finished with a 32-17 record in New York, his total wins and 65 percent win rate at the hard-court major both standing up as his best at the Slams. Isner also excelled in doubles, winning another eight ATP Tour titles, with five of those coming at the ATP Masters 1000 level. He concluded his career with 489 singles wins, placing him among the top 60 in ATP Tour history.

Brian Kalbas, in his 23rd season as the head coach of the NC Women's Tennis Program has established himself as an authoritative force in collegiate athletics with a career record of 797-196 (.803) and a remarkable 583-111 (.840) record at UNC, holding the highest winning percentage in ACC history. Kalbas has guided his teams to seven ITA National Team Indoor Championships and eight ACC Championship titles, including five consecutive from 2016-2019 and 2021. A two-time National Coach of the Year and an eight-time ITA Regional Coach of the Year, he has consistently positioned the Tar Heels among the nation's elite, with his teams making 13 NCAA Team Championship Quarterfinals appearances and seven semifinal appearances and led the Tar Heels to their first NCAA Women’s Tennis Team title in 2023. Kalbas’s impact extends beyond team success to the development of individual athletes. Under his guidance, 26 UNC players have earned a total of 73 All-America honors with every single student-athlete who has completed four years in his UNC program has graduated. Prior to his tenure at North Carolina, Kalbas built a formidable program at William & Mary, where he won nine CAA Championships and was named CAA Coach of the Year four times. As one of only four Division I women's coaches to achieve 700 career victories, Kalbas has proven his ability to build and sustain a championship-caliber program. Further testament to his leadership, Kalbas also served as the head coach for Team USA at the 2007 Pan American Games.

The North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame was established in 1975 to honor those who, by excellence of their activities connected with North Carolina Tennis, have brought substantial recognition and esteem to themselves and the State. The Hall of Fame is located in Greensboro, NC at the Harold T. and Mildred Southern Tennis Center.

Inductees into the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame are unanimously selected each year by the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame Council. With the induction of the Class of 2026 there will be 122 NC Tennis Hall of Fame members.

After registering and purchasing your ticket(s) or table to attend the Hall of Fame Dinner, you may secure a hotel room for an overnight stay at this unique PINEHURST ROOM RESERVATION LINK (group code: 112231 password: 17987730) to make your hotel accommodations ONLY.

*****If you would like to purchase a Hall of Fame Program Ad to honor your Inductee, please go to this LINK to learn more!

We look forward to seeing you in Pinehurst for the Hall of Fame Reception, Dinner, and Ceremony on January 31, 2026!