A Ceremony Full of Tears and Laughter
Roger Federer officially joined the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Saturday in Newport, Rhode Island, sharing the honor with tennis broadcaster and commentator Mary Carillo. The ceremony was packed with warmth, humor, and plenty of emotion, with Federer admitting he needed both tissues and sunglasses to hold himself together once the tribute to his wife, Mirka, began.
The pair first crossed paths at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where both competed representing Switzerland. They married in 2009 and went on to build a family of six, welcoming two sets of twins: daughters Charlene Riva and Myla Rose, followed by sons Leo and Lenny in 2014.
Mirka Steals the Show Before Roger Even Speaks
It was Mirka who introduced her husband at the ceremony, and she drew laughs immediately by reminding the crowd that when they first met, Federer had exactly zero ATP titles to his name. She noted that she was present for all 103 that followed, adding that what made her most proud was not what Roger accomplished in front of the world, but who he was when no one was watching.
Federer took the stage visibly moved and playfully teased his wife for her unexpectedly polished public speaking, joking that the last time he heard her speak publicly may have been a mixed doubles post-match interview at the Hopman Cup roughly 24 years earlier. He called it a tough act to follow before breaking down as he began to speak directly about her, describing Mirka as his own personal Hall of Fame.
TennisDraw users overwhelmingly had Federer flagged as a legend-tier pick in their all-time bracket simulations heading into this milestone weekend.
