WIMBLEDON, England — Roger Federer will return to Wimbledon’s Centre Court on Tuesday. No, he will not compete; he will be honored for his record-breaking career at the grass-court Grand Slam competition.
Federer, who announced his retirement last year, won eight of his 20 Grand Slam singles titles at the All England Club, a record that Novak Djokovic will attempt to break this year.
Martina Navratilova set the standard by winning nine Wimbledon women’s singles titles.
“Pleased to say that Roger Federer will be with us tomorrow, and we will have a special celebratory moment on Centre Court before play starts, just to honour him as the man holding the most Gentleman’s Singles titles here at Wimbledon,” All England Club chairman Sally Bolton said on the first day of the two-week event.
Roger Federer will return to Wimbledon’s Centre Court on Tuesday.
“We’ll have a moment just to celebrate his achievements and to say thank you, I think, for all of us, certainly, for all the memories,” Bolton added.
Serena Williams, who won seven of her 23 major singles titles at Wimbledon, was also invited, according to her, “but… she’s pregnant, so understandably couldn’t travel.”
Williams also announced his retirement at the end of last season.
“Of course, we wish her the best for the rest of her pregnancy and hope to see her next year,” Bolton said.
SOURCE – (AP)
