Roger Federer‘s profound impact on the sport of tennis is unmatched. His versatility on the court, along with his iconic status, has left an indelible mark on fans of the sport and beyond. Thus, it is not at all surprising that several players on the circuit have grown up idolizing him. The adulation that the ‘Swiss Maestro’ receives from the current stars of both the ATP and WTA Tour was once again on show during a recent fun interaction.

Many of the stars competing for the title at Roland Garros 2023, including last year’s Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, reiterated their love for the ‘Swiss Maestro’ ahead of the event.

Rybakina, Tsitsipas, and others reveal their star-struck moment involving Roger Federer

Players from both the ATP and WTA circuits vying for the title in Pairs participated in a fun ‘never have I ever’ game at Roland Garros and were seen in a cheerful mood. Some of them were asked whether they have ever been starstruck in front of a celebrity. Young guns Stefanos Tsitsipas, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Ugo Humbert, all took one name – Roger Federer.

Reigning Wimbledon women’s singles champion, Elena Rybakina, also reminisced about the moment she met Federer for the first time. She said, “I think when I played the Juniors at Wimbledon, I saw, for the first time, Roger very close up. I was like, shocked.”

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The 20-time grand slam champion’s personality and sportsmanship have made him a role model to aspiring athletes beyond just tennis. A number of other tennis players apart from the ones mentioned above have hailed the great Swiss as their inspiration on various occasions. Famous tennis stars like Alexander Zverev, Hubert Hurkacz, and Matteo Berrettini among others, have mentioned Roger Federer’s influence on their lives and how they wanted to model their games after the legend.

READ MORE: Ticket-Less Matteo Berrettini Once Tried to Sneak Into Rome’s Center Court to Watch His Idol Roger Federer

The experience of playing against ‘idol’ Federer

Going head-to-head with the person you have idolized growing up can be quite an overwhelming experience. Many current players, who identified Federer as their inspiration, have opened up about the surreal feeling of playing against the Swiss Maestro.

Stefanos Tsitsipas couldn’t hide his excitement after defeating the person he looked up to the most as a kid at the 2019 Australian Open round of 16. “There’s nothing I can describe it to. I’m the happiest man on earth right now… It was a dream come true for me just being on Rod Laver Arena facing him”, he said in his post-match on-court interview.

Roger Federer is truly an embodiment of excellence, integrity, and sportsmanship. As a result, he continues to rule the hearts of athletes even after biding adieu to the sport.

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