Superstar Roger Federer has not yet given up hope of returning to Wimbledon as an active tennis pro.
It feels “uncomfortable” to be on the pitch in a different role, said the 40-year-old Swiss man in a dark suit at a ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the center court at the lawn classic. “I hope I can come back again.” Federer has won the title at Wimbledon eight times.
The 20-time Grand Slam tournament winner had his right knee operated on for the third time last August. Most recently, he was on the tennis court in a match in the quarter-finals in Wimbledon in July 2021. So far this year he has confirmed, among other things, his participation in the Laver Cup at the end of September, the duel between a European team and a world team.
“I missed being here,” said Federer. The knee was hard on him. But it had been a good year at home. The children are fine.
At the event before Jule Niemeier’s round of 16 match against Briton Heather Watson in Wimbledon’s largest stadium, numerous previous winners such as Björn Borg, Billie Jean King, Rod Laver and Angelique Kerber were celebrated. “It’s an honor to be on the pitch with the absolute legends of our sport who paved the way for our generation,” said Novak Djokovic, who is aiming for his seventh Wimbledon title this year.