Roger’s tears as children see his triumph
Federer romps to record eighth Wimbledon crown
ROGER Federer was ice-cool yesterday as he became the first man to record eight Wimbledon titles – but his four children warmed his heart and reduced him to tears.
He smashed record after record as he swept aside Croat Marin Cilic in straight sets on Centre Court.
But as Federer, 35, made his victory speech to the Wimbledon crowd, one of his sons was not so impressed and pulled a funny face at his tennis legend father.
His four children were brought into the players’ box to join in the celebrations.
Federer was overwhelmed as he caught a glimpse of identical twin daughters Myla Rose and Charlene Riva, who are eight next Sunday, and three-year-old twin sons Leo and Lenny.
The girls, wearing matching dresses, and the boys, dressed in smart blue blazers, looked on at proceedings with mother Mirka, 39.
“They have no clue what’s going on,” Federer said.
“I think the younger twins think this is probably a nice view and a nice playground.
“Hopefully one day they will understand. It’s a wonderful moment for the family. This one is for us.”
The drama unfolded as Federer won sets 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 in one hour 41 minutes. It was played out in front of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, both 35. Kate, who is patron of the All England Club, kissed Federer to congratulate him.
She had attended the first day of the tournament although William was making his first visit. Sister Pippa, brother James and mother Carole also cheered.
Theresa May watched from the Royal Box along with a supporting cast of stars including Eddie Redmayne, 35, Bradley Cooper, 42, and Hugh Grant, 56. Fellow stars Uma Thurman, 47, Sienna Miller, 35, and former Dr Who David Tennant, 46,were in the crowd along with former Ukip leader Nigel Farage.
Federer now holds a record 19 Grand Slam titles and at 35 years 342 days, he becomes the oldest man in the modern era to win Wimbledon.
Incredibly, he won the championship this year without dropping a set in any of his matches. But opponent Cilic, 28, had been struggling with his emotions as he realised his dreams were unravelling. He broke down in tears during the changeover as he struggled with a blister.
But, ultimately, it was Federer’s day. He summed up his record-breaking victory saying: “It’s magical, I can’t believe it yet. It’s too much really.”
CENTRE COURT was awash with tears yesterday as Roger Federer wrote his name into tennis immortality by winning a record eighth Wimbledon title.
The Swiss master, a month short of his 36th birthday, wept as he clinched his 19th Grand Slam title in front of his two sets of twins having beaten Marin Cilic 6-3, 6-1, 6-4.
Federer vowed to return to defend the trophy next year – and insisted he can play on until he is 40.
“Winning eight is not something you can ever aim for,” he said. “But I dreamed, I believed, and really hoped I could actually do it. I put in a lot of work and it paid off.”
Croatian Cilic also burst into tears midway through the second set as he had treatment for
the blister on his left foot which wrecked his chances, and wept again at the end.
Federer, the oldest man to win Wimbledon in the Open era, has had to wait five years since winning his seventh title – when breaking British hearts by beating Andy Murray. His first came in 2003 when he beat Australian Mark Philippoussis.
Federer has now eclipsed the seven Wimbledon singles crowns won by William Renshaw during the 1880s and American Pete Sampras, right, who dominated during the decade before the Millennium. And the Swiss, who ended Sampras’s 31-game winning
streak at SW19 in a fourthround epic in 2001, said: “I didn’t think I was going to be this successful after beating Pete. I hoped to have a chance maybe one day to be in a Wimbledon final and have a chance to win.
“It is very special. Wimbledon will always be my favourite tournament. My heroes walked the grounds and the courts here. Because of them, I became a better player.
“To make history here really means a lot to me because of all that. I didn’t think that much of it throughout the ceremony.
“I was so happy I was able to win Wimbledon again because it’s been a long road. It’s been tough at times. Number eight obviously means a lot to me because to be part of Wimbledon history is truly amazing.”
Federer, who took 10 weeks off before the grasscourt season, said: “The goal is definitely to be here again next year to defend. But there’s never a guarantee at 35 or 36. “Could I still be playing here when I’m 40? You would think so, health permitting.”
Cilic said: “I got a really bad blister. I felt it in the semis. The physios did as much as they could, but I still felt the pain.
“It didn’t hurt so much that it was putting me in tears. It was really bad luck.
“I knew I could not give my best in such a big match. It was very difficult to focus.”