Roger Federer played his best tennis at the Wimbledon Championships, and he returned to the special venue to receive a standing ovation.
Federer is one of the best tennis players of all time and, for some, the greatest tennis player of all time. That debate will likely never be concluded because so much of it is based on emotion; however, Federer's impact on modern tennis can’t be ignored.
After retiring from professional tennis in 2022, the 41-year-old has been honored at multiple events, most recently at the Halle Open, where he triumphed ten times in the past.
He’s arguably the most impactful tennis player who has ever lived, reigniting interest in a sport that was well on its way to being forgotten. He made it a global phenomenon again and left a huge legacy.
A large part of that legacy was created at Wimbledon, where he’s still the best-performing male player of all time. He won eight Wimbledon trophies, which is still the most out of any male player, even though Novak Djokovic has a very good chance of matching his achievement.
He trails him by only one with seven titles to his name, with this year providing a chance for him to possibly make that number eight. Even if he doesn’t win it this year, the Serbian player doesn't seem to be even thinking about the word retirement, and he could likely have another shot at the grass-court major in the future.
As for Federer, it’s no wonder that he received the type of welcome he did upon his return to the venue where he was so successful. The last time he stood on Centre Court as a player was in 2021, when he lost to Hubert Hurkacz in the quarter-final of the Wimbledon Championships.
He didn't play this time around but came to just watch some tennis; however, the welcome was still notable. He was announced, and he had a special entrance, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd. He’s really beloved in London, and the best proof of that was the crowd.
Roger Federer is a true legend and when it comes to Wimbledon, his name is directly tied to its history.