Roger Federer in Tears After Wife Mirka's Heartfelt Hall of Fame Speech
Mirka Federer had her husband and tennis fans in a puddle of tears over the weekend.Tennis legend Roger Federer couldn’t hold back his emotions when his wife inducted him to the International Tennis Hall of Fame ahead of his induction on Saturday in Newport, R.I.Despite his 20 Grand Slam titles and endless accomplishments, Mirka steered clear of talking about what was done on the court. Rather, she gave everyone detailed insight to who the 45-year-old is off the court.Mirka Federer, the wife of tennis great Roger Federer, inducts him into the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Sunday, August 30, 2026, in Newport, RI. USA TODAY Network via Reuters ConnectMirka mentioned the couple met during the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games when she was a junior tennis star, meeting Federer as the “older woman” at 21 years old while he was 18. “When we met, he had exactly zero ATP titles. Zero,” she said. “Looking back, I suppose I was there for all 103 that followed. We shared quite the journey.”She went on to detail the moment the couple found out they were expecting twins for the first time — a time when she expected her travel days were over.“Without missing a beat, he said, ‘I won’t play anymore,'” Mirka said. “He wasn’t being remanded. He meant it. That’s who Roger is. His family comes first.”Federer could often be seen wiping tears from his eyes throughout the near eight-minute speech. “Fortunately, we found another solution, and that solution involved babies, strollers, toys, books, and eventually two sets of twins traveling all over the world with us,” Mirka went on. “The tennis tour has always been our home. Our children Myla, Charlene, Leo, and Lenny know him as Papa. The Papa who read bedtime stories, played games with them, who ran their bath, who made them laugh, no matter how busy he was. Whether he won or lost, he always made time for them.Inductee Roger Federer takes his seat during the International Tennis Hall of Fame 2026 Induction Ceremony on Saturday, August 29, 2026, in Newport, Rhode Island. Getty ImagesMirka Federer inducts her husband, tennis great Roger Federer, into the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Sunday, August 30, 2026, in Newport, RI. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect“I know him always as the kind husband, funny, thoughtful, and endlessly supportive. His parents know him as a loving son. His sister knows him as a wonderful brother. And his friends know him as someone who always has time for them, no matter how busy his life becomes.’At the conclusion of her speech, Federer stood up and his parents could be seen wiping away tears as well.He then took the stage and hugged and kissed Mirka before accepting the trophy commemorating his induction.The Swiss star became eligible for the honor this year, coming four years after his retirement in 2022.Mirka Federer kisses husband Roger’s cheek during the International Tennis Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Sunday, August 30, 2026, in Newport, Rhode Island. BACKGRIDHe went on to thank Mirka in his speech and the tears came down then as well. He joked he needed “tissues and sunglasses.” “I need everything to protect me,” Federer said. “Oh God. Oh my God. I’m going to do the Mirka bit. This is such a mess.“As you know, Mirka is my wife, which is the greatest understatement I can make,’” he began. “She’s also been my coach, my hitting partner before matches, and my reality check, also my stylist. I definitely needed one at the time.“Mirka is the person who showed me how to get more focused about tennis and take joy in everything else. A wonderful mother to our four kids. She and I grab each other’s hands and we run through walls. So she’s all of these things, and that’s my Hall of Fame.”Prior to his induction, Federer was in the spotlight during the U.S. Open’s Fan Week where he played an exhibition match against Andy Roddick in Arthur Ashe Stadium. The two also had some doubles fun with Andre Agassi and John McEnroe.