Jennifer Capriati makes Tennis Hall of Fame!

This is a very inspiring story.

In the mid-90s, Jennifer Capriati was off the tennis tour surfacing in the press only in unfortunate incidents like being arrested for shoplifting and marijuana possession and having her mugshot plastered around the world.

She had been a teenage sensation making the semifinals of Wimbledon and the US Open and winning the Olympic Gold Medal over Steffi Graf all before her 18th birthday.

Then it all went away. She rebelled, left the tour and floundered. When she tried to come back in 1996, the results were mixed at best.

But in 2001, she not only reached her former heights, she surpassed them when she won the Australian Open and the French Open and ascended to the number one ranking in a sport that had left her for dead. She won the Australian Open again in 2002.

She retired in 2004.

”Tennis has been my passion and dedication for my entire life, and to be acknowledged for this passion and dedication is truly icing on the cake,”  Capriati said in a statement. ”Finally, to all of my fans: You mean so much to me. I am, and have always been, blessed beyond words by your support both during and after my playing days. You unquestionably made this game so memorable for me and I miss you all so much.”

Capriati’s election was announced Friday, joining a 2012 class that includes Gustavo Kuerten (pictured below with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer), Manuel Orantes, Randy Snow and Mike Davies.