There is only one player in tennis history who has a huge fan following even among the players. Roger Federer is a name that holds many records, and his is a face that means tennis itself. Recently, the second-best player in women’s tennis Simona Halep revealed her fan story regarding the Swiss maestro.

The 22 WTA titles holder has been the number 1 player twice in her career (2017 and 2019). Losing to Iga Swiatek in the finals of 2020 French Open, she missed her chance to gain the top rank. However, Halep had a successful season, recording 23 wins for 3 losses.

“I saw Roger Federer, I froze”: Simon Halep

World No. 2 Simona had participated in 2007 Wimbledon as a junior. While she was there, she saw the Swiss maestro for the first time. Starstruck, the 29-year-old talked with Federer and grew fonder of him.

Simona said, “I saw him there, I froze, I didn’t know how to react and handed him the badge, asked him if he could give me an autograph.” One might think that after ruling a sport for more than a decade, a player can change but not Federer.

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The 39-year-old Federer is still the best when it comes to being warm and welcoming. Simona continued, “It was very warm and gave me a very pleasant feeling. Even though he was very famous and very good in our sport, he talked to me and wished me well.”

(All quotes have been translated via Google Translate)

Federer did not play more than one tournament in the whole of 2020 due to his knee injury. Despite his absence, the Swiss maestro won the Fan’s Favourite Award for the 18 consecutive year.

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“What Federer has achieved is enormous”: Halep

At 39, the Basel-born player still aims to win an Olympic gold for his country. But experts have claimed that Federer’s chances of winning are slim to none. Simona conveyed her views on his retirement and said:

“He was an idol for our whole generation, a beauty on the field and off the field a very civilized man, with good sense, warm with everyone. A genius, from my point of view, and it would be sad enough for the sport for Federer to disappear. But I think that when he decides this, it will be a wise decision. Life means something other than tennis; he is old and what he has achieved is enormous.”

The 20-time Grand Slam champion is reportedly to represent Switzerland in February at the ATP Cup 2021. From then on, Federer will take on the first major tournament of the year–the Australian Open 2021.

Roger Federer and Kei Nishikori Will Reportedly Make Their Debut at ATP Cup 2021