{"id":753141,"date":"2026-08-29T02:50:22","date_gmt":"2026-08-29T02:50:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/753141\/"},"modified":"2026-08-29T02:50:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-29T02:50:22","slug":"roger-federer-prepared-for-happy-tears-at-hall-of-fame-induction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/753141\/","title":{"rendered":"Roger Federer prepared for happy tears at Hall of Fame induction"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n The first time he cried after a big win, Roger Federer<\/a> says he didn\u2019t understand what was happening.\n <\/p>\n

\n It was 2001 at Wimbledon<\/a>, and he\u2019d just dethroned the great Pete Sampras on his Centre Court debut.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cI go to my knees, (then) I shake hands with Pete and he\u2019s my hero \u2026 and these emotions came all over me,\u201d he told CNN Sports<\/a>. \u201cAnd I was like, \u2018What is going on?\u2019 This is not who I am normally.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n From that moment until his tearful farewell in 2022, Federer carved out one of the most remarkable careers in tennis history and became arguably the most famous crier in sports.\n <\/p>\n

\"Federer<\/p>\n

\n This weekend the Swiss superstar is being inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, and it sounds like he\u2019s expecting the waterworks to return.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cIf I\u2019m speaking about the game and all the gratitude that I have, and having my entire family there \u2013 from my parents to my wife to my four children and my whole team from coaching staff and physios, etc. I think it could hit home very hard,\u201d he said hours ahead of his big moment in Newport, Rhode Island.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cIf it happens, it will be more memorable for me personally, but I hope I get through the speech without too many hiccups. We\u2019ll see.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\"Roger<\/p>\n

\n For his army of fans, Federer\u2019s induction has been a long time coming. It\u2019s been an obvious destination since 2004, when he captured three of the four grand slam singles titles and ascended to the top of the world rankings, remaining at the summit for an extraordinary 237 consecutive weeks \u2013 still a record.\n <\/p>\n

\n In 2005, he won over 95% of his matches, but 2006 is considered to have been his peak season: Another trio of major championships and a total of 12 titles won with a record of 92-5 \u2013 a 94.8%-win rate.\n <\/p>\n

\n Few thought Sampras\u2019 record of 14 grand slam titles would ever be broken, but Federer blew past him at Wimbledon in 2009 and never looked back.\n <\/p>\n

\n He was beloved for his grace and elegance on the court and his easy-going manner off it.\n <\/p>\n

\"RogerFedTHUMB.jpg\"<\/p>\n

Roger Federer on the frustrations over his playing style\n <\/p>\n

20-time grand slam tennis champion, Roger Federer, spoke with CNN’s Don Riddell to discuss the Swiss icon’s seemingly effortless playing style. Federer will be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Saturday.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Roger Federer on the frustrations over his playing style<\/p>\n

1:23<\/p>\n

\n Federer doesn\u2019t have any regrets, except perhaps for the perception that he sometimes made it look too easy.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cIt looked like I wasn\u2019t actually hitting the ball so hard,\u201d he recalled how others viewed his style as a youth player. \u201cBut it was kind of flying off of my racket with a lot of power. People always thought, like, \u2018It\u2019s so simple for you,\u2019 because it looked like elastic. But it wasn\u2019t the case. There was a lot of work and effort put into it.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cWhen I would lose, they say, \u2018Why don\u2019t you try harder?\u2019 And when you win, they would say, \u2018Oh my God, it\u2019s so easy for you!\u2019\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\"Federer<\/p>\n

\n Perhaps within that answer lies the clue to all those famed tears.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cThe sacrifice was massive and I was holding a lot of pressure in.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n It doesn\u2019t sound like he misses it all that much. He is at peace with his career. There is no void that needs to be filled, no desire to recreate all that pressure or those emotions.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cI\u2019m actually really happy going through everyday life at a lower pace,\u201d he said.\n <\/p>\n

\n Life as a father of four, a philanthropist, an investor and businessman is certainly enough to keep him on his toes, and in any case, he still gets to travel: \u201cI\u2019ve always been a guy who loves being on the road.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\"<p>On<\/p>\n

Ahead of Roger Federer being inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, CNN Sports delves into the archives\n <\/p>\n

\"<p>On<\/p>\n

Ahead of Roger Federer being inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, CNN Sports delves into the archives<\/p>\n

3:29<\/p>\n

\n His Hall of Fame induction is a chance to relive some of his greatest memories. He has enjoyed the thought of being able to play some of the other legends that he now sits alongside \u2013 should the Tennis gods permit it.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cI would have a little list,\u201d he declared, before rattling off the names of Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, Stefan Edberg, Boris Becker, and Sampras, again. \u201cI think these would be my favorite players to play against. I\u2019ve always admired their personalities, what they have achieved, and what they represent in the game.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n Federer\u2019s once-record haul of 20 grand slam titles has been surpassed by both Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, but his fans will always regard him as the greatest player of all time. Having mastered the game of tennis, CNN wondered what else he would consider himself to be good at.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cI\u2019m trying to get better at golf,\u201d he mused, \u201cI would love to start with an instrument again. I used to play the piano, so when I have more time, I\u2019d like to dive into that because my four children and my wife play the piano.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cI hope I\u2019m a good listener and a good decision-maker. Hopefully I\u2019m a guy who people enjoy being around. I\u2019m a big family guy. I love being surrounded by my friends \u2013 that\u2019s really the priority in my life.\u201d\n <\/p>\n