Roger Federer staged a chic comeback at Wimbledon on Monday, opting for the perfect moment to return to the Championships — Novak Djokovic's fourth-round encounter — from the exclusive Royal Box.
The 43-year-old Swiss legend, who last played at the All England Club in 2021, watched on Centre Court as Djokovic took on Australia's Alex de Minaur in his quest to equal Federer's record of eight Wimbledon titles.
Federer, the grass-court legend, has a rich Wimbledon record — racking up a 105-15 win-loss record over 22 editions and claiming five titles on the trot from 2003 to 2007. His trip was during a time when Djokovic, having won his 100th match at SW19 just weeks before, wanted to match that elite mark.
The duos legendary feud is ingrained in Wimbledon lore, none more memorable than the epic 2019 final — the longest in finals history — which took four hours and 55 minutes. That encounter had Federer almost claiming a ninth crown, leading by two championship points at 8-7, 40/15 in the deciding set before Djokovic staged a stunning turnaround to triumph in an unforgettable tie-break.
While Federer's court time is done, his appearance on Monday served as a poignant reminder of his lasting impact at Wimbledon, inspiring awe from fans and fellow competitors alike.
As the match progressed, gusts of wind beset Djokovic in the beginning. After a double fault to start, he was able to deliver an ace, but the mistakes added up. De Minaur seized the initiative soon, breaking serve twice to rush into a 4-1 lead, Djokovic's second double fault sealing the game.
The 24-time Grand Slam winner regrouped though in the second set, taking it 6-4 with increased urgency that galvanized the Centre Court audience.
In addition to Federer, other high-profile guests included cricketing greats James Anderson of England and West Indies legend Brian Lara, both enjoying the day’s tennis from the Royal Box.
