LONDON — The legendary Roger Federer returned to the hallowed grounds of Wimbledon on Monday, taking a seat at Centre Court—not as a competitor, but as an esteemed spectator at the venue where he claimed an unparalleled eight men’s titles.
The retired icon enjoyed the thrilling match from the Royal Box, witnessing his former adversary Novak Djokovic battle Alex de Minaur to a stunning victory of 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the fourth round at the prestigious All England Club.
Djokovic has not only eclipsed Federer’s remarkable achievement of 20 Grand Slam singles titles but has also set a new record with 24—a landmark in men’s tennis. Now, he aims to match Federer’s legacy by clinching an eighth title at this iconic grass-court tournament.
At 38, Djokovic was clearly aware of his illustrious guest in the front row.
“It’s fantastic to have Roger here. A true champion, someone I deeply respect,” Djokovic expressed. “We’ve shared so many memorable moments on the court, and it feels great to see him back at his favorite tournament.”
The two tennis titans have clashed a total of 50 times, with Djokovic holding a slight edge in their rivalry at 27 wins to 23.
Recently, the trio of Djokovic, Federer, and Andy Murray gathered at the French Open to celebrate the illustrious career of Rafael Nadal.
Dressed in a smart blue suit complemented by a dark tie and a round purple badge symbolizing his club membership, Federer was met with an enthusiastic round of applause as he arrived alongside his wife, Mirka.
As he acknowledged the crowd of approximately 15,000, Federer, who is set to turn 44 on August 8, waved warmly.
Federer first lifted the Wimbledon trophy—marking his inaugural Grand Slam victory—in 2003. His most recent was in 2017, and just two years later, he faced Djokovic in a gripping final, where he had two championship points but ultimately fell to Djokovic in a thrilling fifth-set tiebreak.
His final match came during the 2021 Wimbledon quarterfinals, where he was defeated by Hubert Hurkacz. It was over a year later that Federer announced his retirement from the sport.
Although his competitive days may be behind him, Federer occasionally appears at tournaments, enjoying the action from the stands.
“It’s probably the first time he’s seen me win after watching a couple of my losses,” Djokovic remarked. “So, it’s nice to break that streak.”
