Roger Federer can no longer intervene on the court at Wimbledon. But the tennis legend also received strong applause in the stands – and even gets to pat a princess.
Tennis superstar Roger Federer has been honoured at Wimbledon for his services to the grass-court classic. Twenty years after his first triumph at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, the 41-year-old Swiss watched the matches on Centre Court from the Royal Box.
As Federer entered the stands, he was greeted with an ovation from the crowd of around 15,000. Mother Lynette Federer, who like father Robert was also seated in the box, was almost moved to tears.
Federer himself appeared in his usual elegant attire: In a smart beige suit including a striped shirt and dotted tie, the Swiss visibly enjoyed the affection of the audience. However, the “Maestro” also had to pay a small tribute to the strict dress code of the Royal Box: The white sneakers of his own company, which the 20-time Grand Slam champion has been wearing more and more in recent times for promotional purposes, had to be left in the wardrobe this time in favour of classic patent leather shoes.
Friendly greeting with the princess
After the extensive ovation, Federer took his seat in the front row of the Royal Box between two other familiar faces: Besides his wife Mirka, Princess Kate was also among those sitting next to him.
King Roger” was even allowed to greet the princess by placing his hand on her back in a friendly manner rather than in accordance with royal protocol. The wife of the heir to the English throne, Prince William, and the ex-tennis star know each other well. Only a few days ago, they took part in a campaign in aid of the ball children at Wimbledon, during which they also stood together on the court.
Federer has won Wimbledon eight times in his career, making him the record winner in London. The last time he won the title was six years ago. Last year, Federer ended his career due to a knee injury.
Last sporting wish denied him
His last sporting wish of being able to play at Wimbledon once more did not come true. “I hope I can come back one more time,” Federer had said last year during the ceremony to mark 100 years of Centre Court.
But the pain in his knee was too much, so Federer ended his impressive career at the Laver Cup in London last autumn. The picture of Federer sitting on the players’ bench weeping next to Rafael Nadal, who was also weeping, was one of the most impressive sports photos of the past year.
After his retirement, the maestro had withdrawn from the public eye for the time being. Time with his family was now the focus, and in winter he enjoyed skiing with friends and children. “I last stood on skis in 2008. Then the children came into the world and they never saw me ski. From there, it was really a dream for me to go to the slopes with them,” Federer said.
The step into retirement was not particularly difficult for him, said Federer, who was repeatedly set back by knee injuries towards the end of his career. He had to have knee surgery three times, and even today his body is not one hundred per cent restored. “Sure, you might want to experience it again. But as long as you know your body can’t do it at that level, you don’t feel the need to be out there on the court,” said Federer, who currently wouldn’t feel ready even for a show match. But even in the spectator role, Federer is more celebrated than many an active player.
