Roger Federer Moved to Tears by Mirka’s Tribute at Hall of Fame Induction

Roger Federer’s induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Saturday, August 29, became a deeply personal affair as the 20-time Grand Slam champion was moved to tears by a surprise tribute from his wife, Mirka. While the evening in Newport was intended to celebrate his illustrious career, the spotlight shifted when Mirka took the stage to introduce her husband, delivering a speech that left the tennis icon visibly overcome with emotion.

Following the induction ceremony, Federer walked to the stage to embrace his wife, taking a moment to compose himself before addressing the audience. The tennis legend admitted he was caught off guard by the quality of the tribute, noting that he had not heard his wife speak publicly since they competed together in a mixed doubles match at the Hopman Cup 24 years ago. He jokingly questioned if she had been secretly practicing, acknowledging that her words were a tough act to follow.

Reflecting on their meeting, Mirka shared that Federer was persistent in his pursuit despite the age gap. She humorously noted that when they first met, the future superstar had zero ATP titles to his name. She remarked that she had the unique perspective of witnessing every one of the 103 trophies that followed his early career, highlighting the personal journey they have shared since those formative years in Sydney.