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"I hope I can come back once": a year after his last match at Wimbledon, Roger Federer received a standing ovation from the London public

2022-07-03T14:58:16.357Z


The Swiss, who suffered a knee injury, has not played tennis in an official match since his quarter-final at Wimbledon last week.


A few words at the microphone, then a standing ovation from the Center Court of the London public.

“I hope I can come back once again” to Wimbledon, said Sunday Roger Federer, who has not played in competition since his elimination last year in the quarter-finals of the London Grand Slam due to his injured knee.

“I miss Wimbledon.

I knew when I left the court last year that the coming year would be tough,” added the 40-year-old Swiss, eight-time winner of the grass-court Major and who came especially for a ceremony for the 100th anniversary of the Center Court.

🎾 #Wimbledon


🤩 Roger Federer: "My biggest wins and losses have been here. I would try to come back here as a player!"

pic.twitter.com/RAwrzENJYV

— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) July 3, 2022

“I didn't think it would take so long to get back on the circuit.

The knee has not been kind to me,” he added.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion is set to return to the courts at the Laver Cup in September.

At his side on Sunday, on the most legendary of tennis courts, stood twenty-three other winners of the most prestigious of tennis tournaments, from Stan Smith (winner in 1972) to Novak Djokovic (in search of a 7th trophy), via Stefan Edberg (1988, 1990), the record holder of 24 Grand Slam titles Margaret Court (1963, 1965, 1970), Chris Evert (1974, 1976, 1981), John McEnroe (1981, 1983, 1984) , Rod Laver (1961, 1962, 1968, 1969), Björn Borg (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980) or even Billie Jean King (1966, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1973, 1975).

Notably missing was the record holder of nine Wimbledon titles, American Martina Navratilova.

“At 17, I played my very first match here and as we had started late, the match was spread over two days.

It was magical and wonderful.

I knew that was where I had to be,” King commented.

“It feels weird to find myself here in another role”

“I had the chance to play a lot of matches on this court, recalled Federer.

It's weird to find myself here in another role.

But it's great to be alongside so many other champions.

This court has given me my biggest wins, but also my biggest losses.

My greatest moment was when I entered the court in 2001 alongside Pete Sampras (Editor's note: whom he had beaten in five sets in the round of 16).

»

“It is an absolute honor and privilege to stand alongside legends of our sport, who have paved the way for me and many generations.

I'm more nervous than when I play, said for his part Djokovic who was to play his round of 16 later in the afternoon on this same court.

My first image of tennis is when I was 4-5 years old and saw Pete Sampras win his fourth Wimbledon.

From there, I dreamed of playing here.

And the dream came true.

»

Source: leparis

All sports articles on 2022-07-03

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