Roger Federer made a return to Wimbledon’s iconic Centre Court on Monday—but this time, not as a player. The eight-time Wimbledon champion was back as a spectator, watching from the Royal Box as Novak Djokovic advanced to the quarterfinals with a four-set win over Alex de Minaur: 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.
Now retired, Federer, 42, sat alongside his wife Mirka, donning a sharp blue suit and the signature purple badge worn by Wimbledon champions. He received a warm round of applause from the 15,000-strong crowd as he took his seat, waving in acknowledgment of the ovation.
Djokovic, 38, has already surpassed Federer’s record of 20 Grand Slam singles titles, reaching 24, the most by any man in tennis history. But he’s still chasing Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon titles—something he’s hoping to match this year.
The Serbian star was well aware of who was watching from the front row. “Obviously, great to have Roger here,” Djokovic said after the match. “A huge, huge champion—someone I’ve admired and respected a lot. We shared the stage for so many years. It’s great to have him back at his most successful and favorite tournament, no doubt.”
The two legends met 50 times during their careers, with Djokovic holding a narrow edge in their rivalry at 27-23. They recently reunited, along with Andy Murray, at a French Open ceremony celebrating Rafael Nadal’s legacy.
Federer first won Wimbledon in 2003, marking his breakthrough Grand Slam title. His last victory at the tournament came in 2017. In 2019, he nearly added a ninth title, holding two championship points in the final before falling to Djokovic in a dramatic fifth-set tiebreaker.
His final professional match was also at Wimbledon in 2021, when he lost in the quarterfinals to Hubert Hurkacz. It wasn’t until over a year later that Federer officially announced his retirement from competitive tennis.
Though no longer on the court, Federer has been spotted attending major tournaments in recent years, often quietly watching from the stands.
Reflecting on the moment, Djokovic joked, “It’s probably the first time he’s watched me and I won the match. The last couple I lost. So, good to break the curse.”
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