Roger Federer Sits All Alone at Wimbledon Royal Box As Celebrities Leave Court

Roger Federer holds the record for the most singles titles won at Wimbledon.

Roger Federer Sits All Alone at Wimbledon Royal Box As Celebrities Leave Court

Roger Federer (Image via The Sun)

Roger Federer returned to Centre Court on Monday (July 6) to enjoy some of the matches played there. He watched Jasmine Paolini beat Alexandra Eala to reach the quarterfinals of Wimbledon for the second time in her career.

He was there for Grigor Dimitrov‘s fourth-round match as well. Federer, who looked really worried when the Bulgarian ace injured his right pectoral muscle during his fourth-round match against eventual champion Jannik Sinner last year, saw Dimitrov lose a five-set thriller to last British man in the draw, Arthur Fery.

After the near-four-hour clash, celebrities started to leave the famous Royal Box. And in what has now become the image of the day, Federer could be seen sitting all alone at the Royal Box for Alexander Zverev‘s fourth-round clash with Jiri Lehecka, also the last match on the Centre Court.

Both Fery and Paolini paid tribute to the 20-time Grand Slam champion following their victories.

We’ve got probably the greatest of all time watching over there (points at Federer), I saw him, and now playing here in front of all you guys and winning and having the support is unbelievable.

Arthur Fery said during his on-court interview

The 44-year-old, also the winner of eight Wimbledon titles, last reached a Grand Slam final here back in 2019 but lost an epic battle to his old foe Novak Djokovic, who will face Felix Auger-Aliassime in the last eight.

I feel so happy to have this opportunity and to get the win as well – and I want to thank Roger because he is my idol. I was saying: ‘Stay focused, don’t think about how he is here!’ I watched all his finals here, so this is an amazing feeling.

Jasmine Paolini said during the on-court interview

Paolini, the finalist here in 2024, will meet Marta Kostyuk in the last eight. Fery, who, before this event, had never made the third round of a Major, will lock horns with this year’s French Open runner-up, Flavio Cobolli.

Zverev’s match versus Lehecka, because of Wimbledon‘s 11 pm curfew, was suspended. The reigning French Open champion has a lead of 6-4, 7-5, 3-3. If he wins the match, he will reach the quarterfinals at SW19 for the first time in his career.

RELATED
Famous Tennis Expert Remains Open to the Idea of Serena Williams Playing Mixed Doubles with Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open

Novak Djokovic says breaking Roger Federer’s record was not a priority for him

Novak Djokovic, with his four-set win over Roman Safiullin in the fourth round, surpassed Roger Federer‘s record for the most match wins in the grass-court Major. Federer had won 105 matches, and Djokovic now has 106 wins. But at the press conference after that win, Nole admitted that breaking Federer’s record was not at all a goal for him.

Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic (via X/The Tennis Letter)
Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic (via X/The Tennis Letter)

Frankly, it’s not a priority for me. I hadn’t even thought about it. I didn’t even know until after winning the last match, so… Right now, it seems quite insignificant to me. To be honest, I didn’t feel very good on the court, so I felt relieved to leave it and get the win.

If Djokovic wins this Wimbledon, he will tie with the Swiss maestro for the most titles won in the grass-court Major. Djokovic last clinched a title here back in 2022 by beating Nick Kyrgios.

Honestly, satisfaction and enjoyment were not part of today’s victory. Of course, I am relieved and happy to have won, but I didn’t enjoy it. I hope the next match will be better in that sense.

Novak Djokovic added

In 2023 and 2024, the 24-time Major champion reached the Wimbledon finals but lost them to Carlos Alcaraz. Last year, he lost to Jannik Sinner in the semifinals, but he snapped his five-match losing streak against the Italian by defeating him in this year’s Australian Open semifinal before losing the final to Alcaraz.

Also read: Flavio Cobolli Recreates Cristiano Ronaldo’s Iconic ‘Siuuu’ Celebration After Reaching Wimbledon Quarterfinals