Wimbledon 2023: Ovation for Roger Federer as new king of the court Carlos Alcaraz emerges

Roger Federer enjoyed a two minute long standing ovation at Wimbledon as his potential heir, Carlos Alcaraz, was carving up the opposition.

Catherine, Princess of Wales, Roger Federer and his wife Mirka listen to Andy Murray’s tribute after his first round match. Picture: Getty Images.

Roger Federer, the ever-revered tennis superstar now retired, enjoyed a two minute long standing ovation when he was welcomed to centre court at Wimbledon on Tuesday.

Perhaps coincidentally, at this very moment the King of the court was officially and fondly farewelled, his potential heir was carving up the opposition on the adjacent court one under cover from persistent rain.

Carlos Alcaraz, with his Spanish movie-star looks, a generous and warm personality, and a killer forehand is already world number one at the age of 20. He defeated Frenchman Jeremy Chardy in straight sets, the first wrapped up in just 22 minutes, 6-0.

If anyone is primed to occupy the vacuum of the booted and suited Federer, the still-hobbling Andy Murray and the injured Rafa Nadal to take on Novak Djokovic here on grass, it is surely Alcaraz, fresh from winning the Queen’s Club championship on grass two weeks ago.

Sitting in the royal box next to Catherine the Princess of Wales, Federer, 41, was joined by his wife Mirka, with the couple having flown in from Switzerland after Federer had joined Coldplay in a gig in Zurich last Sunday. His parents, Robbie and Lynette were there too.

The prized cushioned seats were a far cry from the grass stage Federer had long made his own, winning 20 majors including eight Wimbledon championships, the first in 2003.

Now 41, Federer appeared emotional at the outpouring of love as the centre court crowd enveloped him in sustained clapping and cheering.

He watched the reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina dispatch American Shelby Rogers in three sets before witnessing Murray’s two hour tennis lesson to a fellow Brit, Ryan Peniston, 6-3, 6-0, 6-1. What must have been going through Federer’s head knowing he could probably still beat a significant swathe of the field?

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz takes a selfie after winning his men's singles tennis match against France's Jeremy Chardy on the second day of Wimbledon. Picture: AFP.

All the while Kate Middleton, who had previously filmed a promotional video with Federer about the Championship ball girls and ballboys, and another royal box invitee, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe sought his views of various aspects of Murray’s play unfolding before them.

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who was held by the Iranian regime from 2016 to 2022 had said watching Murray win Wimbledon in 2016 had been “joyful” and had lifted her flagging spirits.

Murray has said her recounting of the moment was ‘by far the strangest, most incredible story that I’ve been told about someone watching me’.

After the match, Murray referred to the “tennis royalty” in the royal box, and remarked how the last time Federer had watched him play on centre court it was at the London 2012 Olympics and Federer had been cheering his opponent, Swiss Stan Wawrinka.

This time though, Murray noted he got a few claps from the master. Lesser players, scheduled for the outer courts, had to watch from the locker room, a persistent falling of rain and play was abandoned for most of the day.