NEW DELHI: Wimbledon paid tribute to the legendary Roger Federer as the eight-time champion returned to the prestigious tournament on Tuesday.
The Centre Court crowd greeted the Swiss maestro with a prolonged standing ovation, mixed with cheers, as he made his way to the Royal box.Emotionally moved, Federer took his seat alongside his wife Mirka and Catherine, the Princess of Wales.
Although he has been away from tennis since his farewell at the Laver Cup in September, he was previously honoured at the grass-court event in Halle, Germany.Federer's presence at Wimbledon captivated the Centre Court crowd as they were treated to a short video presentation on the scoreboards before Elena Rybakina's opening match.The film showcased the highlights of Federer's illustrious Wimbledon career, spanning from his inaugural triumph in 2003 to his most recent victory in 2017.It was a visual journey that reminded spectators of the Swiss maestro's remarkable achievements and left them in awe of his greatness.Federer, who amassed an impressive 20 Grand Slam titles, clinched his first Wimbledon championship in 2003 and went on to claim a record eighth men's crown in 2017.His last appearance at the All England Club was in 2021 when he exited in the quarter-finals, losing to Poland's Hubert Hurkacz.