British tennis legend Virginia Wade described Queen Elizabeth II as “totally down to earth” and revealed that Roger Federer was “completely smitten with her” when they met the Queen in 2010. On Thursday, the Royal House announced that the Queen had passed away at the age of 96.
Throughout her life, the Queen made four visits to the All England Club: in 1957, 1962, 1977 and 2010. In 2010, Wade and Federer were among the selected few who had the honor of sitting with the Queen at a table of lunch. “I was lucky enough to be invited to Buckingham Palace in a very small group with the Queen,” Wade told the PA news agency.
“I was very lucky when the Queen came to Wimbledon in 2010. We sat at a small table at lunch. There was Roger Taylor, Ann Jones and Angela Mortimer. I think there were only eight of us. Roger was completely smitten with her.
She was so smart, just on the ball. Every encounter you’ve had with the Queen has been unforgettable. I’ve had quite a few that just shook her hand and didn’t say anything about her, but it was really special to get to know her, to see that on the other side of her was a real, unassuming person.
She was the most important woman in the world and she was very down to earth. She had a great sense of humor and was very caring, but I don’t think she put up with any nonsense.” In 1977, Wade won her first Wimbledon title after beating Betty Stove in the final.
Federer has been out for a year
While Nadal is leading the Grand Slam race with 22 titles and Djokovic is widely expected to finish with most of the key records by the time his career comes to an end, with Mike Bryan admitting he would pick the third member of this triumphant.
“For me it has to be Roger Federer,” Mike told Tennis365. “Those few years when he was dominating, he barely lost any matches. The way he does is it always so smooth. He doesn’t sweat, he just like a zen master.
He is also the most relaxed in the locker room. Before a Wimbledon final, he laughing in the dressing room like it’s a Sunday afternoon in the park. When it’s all said and done, who knows who will have all the records, but I will always have a special place in my heart for Roger”.
