Roger Federer delivers emotional speech at induction into Tennis Hall of Fame

New York: Tearful tennis legend Roger Federer was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Saturday, calling the recognition one of the greatest honours of his life.

The 45-year-old Swiss, a 20-time Grand Slam singles champion, became emotional several times while addressing a gathering of tennis greats at the ceremony in Newport, Rhode Island, AFP reported.

Federer, who retired from professional tennis in 2022, used his speech to thank the opponents, officials, fans, family members and friends who had played a role in his remarkable career. He described the occasion as an opportunity to celebrate his enduring relationship with the sport.

Reflecting on his career, the eight-time Wimbledon champion said the Hall of Fame was never what he had pursued. Instead, his ambition had always been to spend his life doing something he loved alongside people who shared the same passion.

Federer also brought humour to his address by highlighting some unusual statistics from his playing days rather than focusing on his Grand Slam titles or weeks spent as world No. 1. He joked that he had worn more than 5,000 headbands during his career, claiming that figure exceeded the combined total of Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe. He added that he had gone through more than 7,000 pairs of socks because he often wore two pairs at a time.

However, Federer acknowledged that no statistic could capture what the Hall of Fame induction meant to him. He reflected on his journey from being a 13-year-old ballboy at an ATP tournament in Basel to reaching the highest levels of the sport.

He also expressed gratitude to the countless ball kids who had stood courtside during his matches, recalling that he had once been in their position himself. He said he could identify with them and appreciated the role they played in tennis.

Federer became visibly emotional while remembering his childhood idol Stefan Edberg, along with other players, members of his family and the support staff who had influenced his career. At one point, he joked that he needed tissues and sunglasses to get through the emotional ceremony.

Looking back on his career, Federer said the Hall of Fame induction had given him a chance to reflect on his past while also thinking about the future. Although his playing career had ended, he said his connection with tennis remained strong.

Federer emphasised that tennis would continue to be closely linked to the people and experiences he valued most, including his family, friendships, the four decades he had spent around the sport and the future he hoped to help shape.