It wasn’t the typical regal setting for a scene when he hits the courts. The traditional all-white kits were not to be seen; perhaps passable even at Wimbledon when you are “not a professional tennis player anymore”. Two years since updating his X (formerly Twitter) status and four since his last professional outing on grass, Roger Federer returned for a hit at the hallowed SW19, turning up at one of the training courts for a special jog down memory lane.
The balletic movements haven’t taken a hit either, as Federer, sporting a black and white Uniqlo outfit, sparred with his old rival Tommy Haas at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, having been a member since his first Grand Slam triumph at Wimbledon in 2003. Federer and Haas have had several fierce contests together, including a memorable 2009 Wimbledon semi-final when the Swiss maestro snipped the German in straight sets en route to his sixth title.
In a video posted on his Instagram account on Friday, Federer was seen hitting balls on a quaint court in silence with his wife Mirka watching on from the sidelines. “Couldn’t resist, Wimbledon,” his humble admission on the caption of the 40-second video post with Fleetwood’s Mac’s Dreams playing in the background. The overload of emotions had fans desperately calling on Federer for a proper comeback at his most favoured turf, one where he was crowned champion a record eight times, including five in succession.
The unannounced hit on the training courts came days after Federer was seen in the Royal Box inside Centre Court for the earlier rounds of the men’s and women’s matches. Federer was in attendance for three Round of 16 matches, catching up on the action of his long-time rival Novak Djokovic against Alex de Minaur, Mirra Andreeva versus Emma Navarro, and Jannik Sinner’s match with Grigor Dimitrov.
Federer’s storied Wimbledon career ended in agonyas he went down Hubert Hurkacz in the 2021 quarter-finals, also marking the end of his Grand Slam career.
When Federer opened up about a return to court
Earlier this year, Federer at the possibility of returning to the courts for exhibition games.
“Honestly, I’d love to play some more tennis again,” Federer had told TNT Sports.
“Enough with the golf, I’ve played so much. So seriously, I would love to start playing two or three times a week & hopefully get myself back on the exhibition court and fill up a few nice around the world. I have no plans yet.
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“The training part, I miss it a little bit. I haven’t played a whole lot since I retired because my body and mind needed a break,” the 43-year-old had said.
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