“I hope I can come back once once more” to Wimbledon, said Sunday Roger Federer, who has not played in competition since his elimination last year in the quarterfinals of the London Grand Slam because of 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 Major on grass and who came especially on the occasion of a ceremony for the 100th anniversary of the Center Court.
“I didn’t think it would take so long to get back on the circuit. The knee hasn’t 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).
Missing in particular was the record holder of nine Wimbledon titles, the American of Czechoslovakian origin 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 this was where I had to be” , commented King.
“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 gave me my greatest victories but also my greatest defeats. My greatest moment was my entrance on the court in 2001 next to Pete Sampras (whom he had beaten in five sets in the round of 16, editor’s note) .”
“It is an absolute honor and a privilege to stand alongside legends of our sport, who have paved the way for me and many generations. I am more nervous than when I play,” said Djokovic, who was to play his round of 16 later in the followingnoon on this same court.
“My first image of tennis is when I was 4-5 years old and I saw Pete Sampras win his fourth Wimbledon. From then on, I dreamed of playing here. And the dream came true “, he recounted.
