What Federer discussed at lunch with the Queen as she surprised icon

Queen Elizabeth’s coffin leaves Buckingham Palace to lie in state

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Tennis legend Roger Federer had lunch with the late Queen Elizabeth II and revealed the monarch impressed with her knowledge of his scores. Federer, universally considered one of the greatest players in the sport’s history, will retire from tennis after the Laver Cup in London this month.

Last Thursday, Buckingham Palace announced the tragic death of the Queen, confirming she died peacefully at Balmoral Castle. She passed away aged 96, ending the longest reign by any monarch in British history. 

The Queen remained a symbol of stability amid a turbulent era in British history, overseeing the decline of the empire as well as the public and incredibly embarrassing dysfunction within her own family. She died having served 70 years on the throne. 

Following the news, people from around the world paid tribute to the Queen – and leading sports figures were no different. One icon to pay his respects was Federer, the 20-time Grand Slam champion. 

Federer met the Queen along with Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic after the monarch visited Wimbledon in 2010. He said: “I was lucky enough to have lunch with her. I was sitting right next to her, with my wife.

“It was a very nice lunch for us. We spent an hour together talking about the London Olympics, she knew about my scores. She was very relaxed. It was a pleasure talking to her.”

The Swiss superstar also tweeted out his condolences to the Royal Family and the wider British population. Federer has always been a popular figure in the United Kingdom, winning eight Wimbledon titles while acting as an utter professional. 

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“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Her Royal Majesty,” Federer wrote, accompanied by a photo of himself meeting Queen Elizabeth. “Her elegance, grace and loyalty to her duty will live on in history.

“I would like to send my thoughts and condolences to the entire Royal Family and Great Britain.”

The 41-year-old, who won his first Wimbledon title back in 2003, has not played since Wimbledon 2021, after which he had a third knee operation.

Federer has struggled with the knee issues for the last three years, restricting him to only three of the 11 Grand Slams staged since the start of 2020 – so news of his impending retirement does not come as a great surprise.

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