1977 Wimbledon champion Virginia Wade reveales Roger Federer was “so entranced” during the Queen’s visit to The Championships in 2010. In 2010, the late Queen Elizabeth II made her fourth and final visit to The Championships.
During the Queen’s final visit to Wimbledon, Federer was among a few selected who had the honor to sit and chat with the Queen. “The next time she came to Wimbledon was in 2010 and there was a very select group of us sitting at lunch with her,” Wade wrote for Eurosport.
“There were three Wimbledon ladies’ champions and Roger Federer and his wife. Roger was on the Queen’s right and I was on the left. Everybody had big eyes but it was wonderful to see Federer so entranced by what she was saying.
We all had this really in-depth, diverse conversation and she knew all about how tennis was going. She knew all about Roger, and I think she knew about me.”
Wade: The Queen’s presence was adding something extra to Wimbledon
In 1977, Wade captured her first and lone Wimbledon title.
Just a couple of days before her 32nd birthday, Wade fulfilled her dream of becoming a Wimbledon champion. The Queen visited The Championships four times – in 1957, 1962, 1977 and 2010. After Wade won the 1977 Wimbledon title, she was presented the trophy by the Queen.
“I know having the Queen at Wimbledon and having the Royal Family there added that extra lustre to the tournament. Everybody would say ‘look who’s in the Royal Box’. It adds that extra element of flair and lustre, it’s special and makes it stand out from other events around the world.
To have the Queen in attendance makes it unique,” Wade added. After the Queen passed away, Federer and Rafael Nadal were among those paid their tribute. Wimbledon also shared a statement following the Queen’s death.
