By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Friday, March 10, 2023
Roger Federer delivered periods of transcendent tennis on Wimbledon's Centre Court.
The Swiss Maestro is poised to make music at The Championships again—as a tennis television analyst.
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Eight-time Wimbledon winner Federer is closing in on a Wimbledon comeback as a commentator for both the BBC and ESPN coverage of SW19 this summer, the Daily Mail reports.
The Daily Mail report comes about five weeks after The Telegraph first reported Federer was in serious negotiations to join Wimbledon's famed broadcast booth.
The young Federer's tennis dreams emanated from Wimbledon visions.
The 41-year-old Swiss superstar has often said he grew up watching Wimbledon clashes between Boris Becker and Stefan Edberg, whom Federer later hired as his coach, and dreamed of playing on the court Pete Sampras called "a tennis cathedral."
Hall of Famer Becker was released from a British prison and deported back to his native Germany before Christmas. As longtime BBC analyst Becker is not legally allowed back on British soil, Federer would in effect replace his former childhood tennis hero in the booth if this deal is finalized.
At his Laver Cup farewell in London last September Federer said he definitely wanted to stay involved with tennis. Commentary may be the perfect platform as it would not require extensive travel for the father of two sets of twins.
Given his knowledge, tactical acumen, charisma, massive popularity with tennis fans, his experience playing some of the most classic matches in Wimbledon history and the fact that he has faced so many of the players he’d be covering, the former world No. 1 would seem to be a great fit for television.
So what would Roger Federer's commentary sound like?
Based on his coaching and commentary in Laver Cup competition it may sound something like this:
We know Federer loves talking tennis, especially with fellow former champions.
Watch Federer detail how he monitored match stats during changeovers, serving evolution over the years as well as how conditions impact surface speed and performance in this AO interview with John McEnroe.
Additionally, Federer is friends with several of the leading analysts for both BBC and ESPN.
The young Federer played doubles with Tim Henman, and the pair have remained friends for years. Federer is long-time friends with John McEnroe, who has worked with the Swiss as captain of Team World for Laver Cup. Federer's long-time agent and business partner, Tony Godsick, is married to Olympic gold-medal champion and ESPN analyst Mary Joe Fernandez, who is a Federer family friend. Hall of Famer and ESPN analyst Chrissie Evert has called Federer her favorite player.
Another asset Federer brings to the booth: He is an avid tennis fan, with deep knowledge of both the men's and women's game.
Federer's wife, Mirka, is a former WTA pro. The pair began dating and shared their first kiss while representing Switzerland at the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympic Games. Federer partnered both Hall of Famer Martina Hingis and Olympic gold-medal champion Belinda Bencic, to Hopman Cup championships. He has called Hingis his dream doubles partner and crowned Serena Williams as the true GOAT.
Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty