Love on the courtroom! Roger Federer met his spouse, Mirka Federer (née Vavrinec), whereas they have been each taking part in the game they love most: tennis.
The 20-time Grand Slam winner and the Slovakia native first crossed paths on the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, whereas they have been each competing for Switzerland. (Mirka’s household immigrated to the nation when she was a toddler.)
Neither participant medaled on the competitors, however they hit it off with one another, sharing a kiss on their final evening within the Olympic Village. “It was greater than only a kiss, I suppose,” Roger informed CNN in 2019. “It was one thing that led to one thing extraordinary for us. We’re nonetheless very pleased.”
The duo secretly dated for 2 years earlier than taking their romance public on the 2002 Hopman Cup, the place they competed as doubles companions. Mirka retired from skilled tennis later that 12 months due to a cussed foot damage, however she remained immersed within the sports activities world alongside Roger as he climbed the rankings, changing into his public relations supervisor.
When the athlete received the Australian Open in 2017, he credited Mirka — his “No. 1 supporter” — with serving to him obtain his targets. “She’s been there after I had no titles and he or she’s nonetheless right here 89 titles later, so she had an enormous half to play in [the win],” he informed reporters on the time. “She is aware of it, I do know it, all people is aware of it. She’s a mum No. 1 and a spouse, and solely then later does she turn into the supporter.”
The duo, who tied the knot in 2009, later welcomed two units of twins: Charlene and Myla (born in 2009) and Lenny and Leo (born in 2014). After changing into a father for the primary time, Roger stated that his youngsters made his tennis victories all of the extra gratifying.
“Having youngsters and being a father now and being married enhances every part,” he defined to ESPN in 2010, shortly after successful his fourth Australian Open title. “I’m such a cheerful particular person at this time to see how nicely every part is figuring out for me. It simply makes me extraordinarily pleased, extraordinarily relaxed and it permits me to play good tennis, and I couldn’t ask for extra.”
When Roger introduced his retirement from tennis in September 2022, he once more gave shout-outs to his partner and their youngsters for serving to him on and off the courtroom. “I wish to particularly thank my wonderful spouse, Mirka, who has lived by means of each minute with me,” he wrote in an announcement shared through Instagram. “She has warmed me up earlier than finals, watched numerous matches even whereas over 8 months pregnant and has endured my goofy facet on the street with my workforce for over 20 years.”
Hold scrolling for a glance again at Roger and Mirka’s full relationship timeline:
