Roger Federer became visibly emotional, shedding tears, during his induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island. The Swiss tennis icon, who retired four years ago, was eligible for the honor this year, bringing his tally of 20 men's Grand Slam titles to the forefront of tennis history.
Federer's wife, Mirka, who first met him at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, introduced him at the ceremony. She shared reflections on their journey, noting that when they met, he had no ATP titles, and she was present for the 103 that followed. Mirka emphasized that tennis was not what impressed her most about her husband, but rather the man behind the athlete.
"The man behind it all is even more remarkable," Mirka stated, highlighting his devotion as a father to their four children. She recounted a moment when she considered ending her travel due to the first set of twins, and Federer's immediate response was to consider retiring from the sport. She explained that they found a way to balance family life with his career, with their children growing up on the tennis tour.
Mirka described him as a kind, funny, thoughtful, and supportive husband, a loving son to his parents, a wonderful brother, and a friend who always makes time for others. Her heartfelt words brought many in the audience to tears, including Federer's parents.
Upon stepping onto the stage, Federer himself struggled to contain his emotions. While accepting the Hall of Fame trophy, he broke down multiple times during his acceptance speech. He paid tribute to his mentor, Stefan Edberg, calling him his "childhood hero," and also acknowledged his parents, Robert and Lynette. Federer lightheartedly referred to his tears as "happy tears."
He also expressed gratitude for his long-serving coach, Severin Luthi, crediting him with providing motivation and protection. At one point, Federer paused, telling the crowd, "We’ll get through this." He also made a humorous remark about needing "tissues and sunglasses" as he spoke about Martina Navratilova inspiring Mirka to play tennis.
Federer described Mirka as his wife, "coach, my hitting partner before matches, and my reality check, also my stylist." He credited her with helping him focus on tennis while finding joy in other aspects of life and being a wonderful mother. "She and I grab each other's hands and we run through walls. So she's all of these things, and that's my Hall of Fame," he said.
Reflecting on his career, Federer shared observations, including a witty comment about the number of headbands he'd seen on court. He also offered advice to current and future players, encouraging them to give back to their communities by sharing their passion and to push the sport to new heights. He expressed hope that the sport would retain its "amateur spirit" and camaraderie among players as it evolves and becomes more global.
"I hope the players will stay young at heart and stay true to their authentic selves, and always remember: never stop asking questions or taking risks, do things with the game we've never seen before," Federer urged. "Keep pushing this sport we love to the next level, and keep getting better, better, and better."