フェデラー氏がウィンブルドンに登場　観客から大歓声

【ロンドンＡＦＰ＝時事】テニス、ウィンブルドン選手権で４日、昨年現役を引退したロジャー・フェデラー（スイス）氏（４１）の功績をたたえるセレモニーが行われた。 （写真はテニス、ウィンブルドン選手権２日目。センターコートのロイヤルボックスに登場し、歓声に応える元男子テニスのロジャー・フェデラー氏〈中央〉）
　ウィンブルドンで男子最多の８度の優勝を誇るフェデラー氏がセンターコートのロイヤルボックスに登場すると、観客から長いスタンディングオベーションと歓声が上がり、英国のキャサリン皇太子妃の隣に座ったフェデラー氏も見るからに感激している様子だった。
　大会自体は欠場したが、昨年もセンターコート開場１００周年の記念セレモニーでウィンブルドンに姿を見せていたフェデラー氏は、米ＣＮＮに対し、「コート上で来年お会いしましょうと言ったのを覚えているが、あれは本気だった」と明かし、「面白いことに、もうコートに立てないという寂しさはない。体が耐えられないのは分かっているから。（プレー）できないのは良いことでもある。そのおかげでテニスを見る側に回り、完全なファンになれるからね」と話した。
　結婚して４人の子どもがいるフェデラー氏は、引退後の生活について問われると、家族や友人との時間が最も楽しいと答え、「正直、人生は充実している。最後の方はあまりプレーできていなかったから、（引退後の生活への）移行もすごくスムーズだった」と語った。
　フェデラー氏は２００３年にウィンブルドン初制覇を果たし、１７年に男子最多となる８度目の優勝を飾った。ウィンブルドンのラストマッチは、ホベルト・ホルカシュ（ポーランド）に敗れた２１年の準々決勝。四大大会（グランドスラム）では通算２０勝を挙げた。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2023/07/05-15:08）

Wimbledon paid tribute to Roger Federer on Tuesday as the eight-time champion returned to the scene of his some of his greatest triumphs.
The Centre Court crowd gave the Swiss great a prolonged standing ovation interspersed with cheers as he entered the royal box.
Federer, fresh from appearing on stage with Coldplay in Zurich at the weekend, was visibly moved before taking his seat next to Catherine, the Princess of Wales.
The 41-year-old has mostly stayed away from tennis since bowing out in emotional scenes at the Laver Cup in London in September but was similarly honoured at the grass-court event in Halle, Germany, last month.
Federer did return to Wimbledon last year to celebrate Centre Court's centenary.
He found this year's festivities more enjoyable because he is no longer battling with the injuries that finally convinced him to retire.
It feels OK now. Last year was hard, because I was still trying to play but struggling with my knee so bad, Federer told CNN.
Last year was the 100-year anniversary of Centre Court. I remember saying on court that I hope to see you next year. I truly meant that.
Funny enough, I don't miss so much being out on court anymore just because I know the body couldn't do it.
It's good that I can't (play anymore), which then lets me watch and follow tennis as a total fan.
Asked how he has adapted to life after tennis, Federer, married with four children, added: I think planning ahead for personal moments with my family and friends, I think that's what I enjoy the most.
Life's honestly been good. I didn't play so much anymore at the end. So actually I feel like the transition was super smooth.
The Federer celebration under the closed roof of Centre Court threatened to upstage the first match of the championship for Elena Rybakina, the defending women's champion, who started her campaign with a three-set win over Shelby Rogers.
Federer, who ended his career with 20 Grand Slam titles, won his first Wimbledon title in 2003 and a record eighth men's crown in 2017.
He played his final match at the All England club in 2021, losing in the quarter-finals to Poland's Hubert Hurkacz.
Novak Djokovic is the hot favourite to equal Federer's Wimbledon mark this year and secure his 24th Grand Slam title.