Lukas Lacko, Eastbourne finalist and world No73, was the stooge as Federer, who turns 37 next month, ran through his full repertoire for their delectation and, at times, seemingly for his own amusement in an 89-minute exhibition. It was a death by 1,000 cuts, slices and slashes for the Slovak at the soft hands of Federer as he won in cruise mode, reeling off a run of 35 successive points on his imperious serve. The Federistas lapped it up. They dress in red in deference to the Swiss flag – the Chelsea Pensioners on Centre Court yesterday fitted in nicely – but hail from all around the world. Sunita Sigtia flew in from Kolkata. She has a tattoo of Federer’s signature on her forearm and his RF logo on the back of her neck. “I don’t like to think how much money I have spent on following him. Why Roger? There is something special about him,” she said. “We used to deliver a red envelope full of messages before tournaments. Now it is a Love Box. It is the highest honour to pass it to him. “I am not married. It’s not because Roger gets in the way but it would be hard for anyone else to live up to his standards.”
GETTY Roger Federer is adored by tennis fans
From closer to home there was Charlotte Stockman, 31, who has taken a fortnight off from her job at the University of Portsmouth, to be a Federer groupie. She is English but wearing red Federer T-shirt, ear-rings and necklace left no doubt as to who she would be backing if it came to a Kyle Edmund-Federer final. “Roger, always. If I had £1 for every time I’ve been told I should be supporting Andy Murray or a British player against him I’d be very rich but he was the one who drew me to tennis,” she said. “I am obsessed, I admit it. I was here at 8.30am on Saturday morning camping out to get to see him on Monday. I was No73 in the queue. “I don’t know what I’ll do when he’s gone. I don’t want to think about it. I’ll still follow tennis but not to these extremes. There’s no one that can take his place.” Federer acknowledges the support but is wary of the extent of the adulation. “I always think every year I might like to go along the queue and hear their stories but then I think ‘maybe not’. I don’t how they might react.”
Roger Federer Uniqlo outfit revealed at Wimbledon Mon, July 2, 2018 Roger Federer has revealed his new Uniqlo outfit at Wimbledon Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 8 Roger Federer has revealed his new Uniqlo outfit
GETTY Roger Federer is through to the third round at Wimbledon
I don’t like to think how much money I have spent on following him Roger Federer fan Sunita Sigtia