Yeah, making plans.”- said Roger Federer when he was asked about his presence at the Wimbledon 2024. Tennis fans awaited to catch a glimpse of their idol on the Centre Court at various matches, particularly at Andy Murray’s. In a twist to his Wimbledon fairy tale, despite being in London, Federer was nowhere in sight even during Murray’s match. Some fans considered it a classy move, as Federer’s absence let all the spotlight shine on Murray. However, many were unhappy with the 8-time Grass Slam champion being a no-show.
Everyone anticipated Federer to grace the Centre Court either to watch the younger generation take charge of the Grass. Or to bid another pillar of Big 4, Murray, a heartening farewell, as he played his last match on the Grass. But while Novak Djokovic, John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova came onto Centre Court after the match, Federer was nowhere to be seen. Though his wife, Mirka, did enjoy some tennis but Federer’s absence left fans bewildered with: where was Roger Federer? The question everyone was looking to answer in their own way. This tennis fan, and maybe a die-hard Federer fan, supported him amid all the chaos, as Amy Lundy Dahl tweeted:
This tweet worked like a key to opening a Pandora’s box of deeply hidden feelings. As Federer is no longer a part of the professional circuit, it’s a rare event to catch him on the Grass courts of London during Wimbledon. No tennis fan wants to miss out on Federer’s reaction as he sits in the stands and responds to the match in front of him. And, as the Swiss is yet to fulfil his promise, many tennis fans took to X in response to his, to express their disappointment, albeit contradicting the thought shared by Amy.
Tennis fans turn their sharp responses towards Roger Federer’s not-so-‘classy’ move
Federer has been ‘classy’ throughout his career. From charismatic and considerate attitude adorned by boy next door smile, and of course, dapper attire off the court. And not to forget his remarkable achievements on the court have contributed to a huge fan base. Though it’s easy to get a rise out of people who dislike the Swiss tennis legend, this time, it was his support group, who was unhappy with Federer’s way at Wimbledon. And refuted the tweet, calling him classy. They tweeted, “I love him but Roger could be washing his hands w his piss and you guys would still call it a class move 😭😭😭 genuinely insane.”
Some considered that his presence would have been more ‘classy’ than his absence. At his farewell at the Laver Cup, major tennis stars came together to bid adieu to the 20-time Grand Slam champion. And fans expected the same respect towards the British tennis legend, as he played his last match at the Centre Court. Especially when Federer and Murray both had been a part of ‘Big 4’. They said, “???????? Roger is classy even when he disappears! It would have been classier to stay behind.”
What made his disappearance more controversial was the fact that no one was aware of the reason behind it. Referring to the same, a fan said, “Nah let’s not do this. I love Federer but he should have been there.” As per reports, Federer opted for a heartfelt visit with Andy Murray before his final doubles match. Tournament director Jamie Baker confirmed this, stating Federer prioritized a private moment with Murray. “Yeah, he went and saw Andy before the match,” said Baker. “They had a good chat…I think Andy really appreciated that as well.”
Some fans drew comparisons with another Big 4 member, Novak Djokovic, who has been on the receiving end of fans’ unfriendly attitude in many instances. And had this been Djokovic who would have disappeared, there would have been no end to the trolls that the Serbian ace would have faced. While some are trying to find reasoning for Federer when he is quiet, this fan said, “Pardon me but if this was Novak….. I assure you, no one would call it classy.” However, what disappointed some fans more than anything was the response of the community towards Federer’s absence through the tweet.
Reflecting on the fact that everyone knew the truth that Federer’s absence was not to give Murray all the limelight. And calling this whole setup propaganda to safeguard Federer is not a onetime thing, but something that has been happening throughout his career. He tweeted, “This tweet has almost 2k likes even though the majority of Tennis know it’s an absolute lie and Federer not bothering to stay behind for Murray’s tribute was not classy at all. This is the power of propaganda and protection Federer has; not just yesterday, but throughout his career.”
Whether or not it is propaganda or there might be a valid reason for his absence, only Roger Federer can clear the air, and calm down his fans. They await his response regarding the absence at the Centre Court.
