Roger Federer’s Emotional Moment at Rugby World Cup Brings Back Flashes of His Tennis Memories as He Claps Hard for Siya Kolisi

Through heartbreaking losses and elating victories, the world of sports is synonymous with high-octane emotions. So what happens when one legend turns up at another sport’s major event? Roger Federer, besides being known for his great achievements on the court, has also been known to possess an emotional side that sometimes shows up after massive wins. And even though he’s hung up his rackets, that side resurfaced again at an unexpected place – the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Federer, undoubtedly a man of strong emotions, has often been witnessed shedding tears of both joy and disappointment throughout his glorious tennis career. Whether it’s celebrating a meaningful Grand Slam victory or dealing with his farewell to the tennis world, Federer’s emotions have always been a major part of his journey as he left his mark on the sporting world.

Roger Federer bursts into tears after witnessing South Africa’s massive victory

In an emotional moment that brought tears to the eyes of tennis legend Roger Federer, South Africa emerged victorious in the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Just as the tennis legend has always embraced his wins brimming with emotions, so did he prove that no matter the sport, the spirit of the game remains the same across all. Federer, who attended the match in France as a devout supporter of South Africa, could hardly hold back his tears as South Africa clinched a massive triumph. So why was the match so emotional?

Federer had turned up to root for South Africa, which is his mother’s home country. Undergoing a rollercoaster of emotions during the thrilling match, the Swiss Maestro leaped to his feet and started clapping for the Siya Kolisi-led team. In a re-shared Tweet, as the final whistle blew and the jubilant commentary streamed on, the broadcast screens showed a green and gold-clad Federer reacting emotionally with tears welling up in his eyes.

The former Swiss tennis player’s connection to South Africa, mainly because of his mother’s roots, made the match victory even more special for him. However, this wasn’t the first time fans saw the 42-year-old legend welcome grand success with tears. Fans need not look any further than his own tennis career!

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Federer’s emotional celebration at Roland Garros 2009

Roger Federer, despite his multiple titles in other Grand Slam tournaments, had one kingdom he couldn’t conquer for the longest time—the French Open. Year after year, the Swiss legend lost to the King of Clay, Rafael Nadal in the finals, making it three years in a row, with the 2008 defeat being a particularly tough one for him.

In 2009, which counted as his fourth consecutive attempt to hit the mark, Federer finally ended the chase as he defeated Robin Soderling in straight sets 6-1, 7-6 (7-1), 6-4. The victory’s worth came out to be clearly visible to the tennis world as he sank to his knees with tears of victory streaming down his face.

With this victory, he achieved the Career Grand Slam, becoming the first man to do so since Andre Agassi ten years earlier. The arena, filled with shared emotions as the champion, cheered at the top of their lungs as Federer received the trophy from Agassi himself, a passing of the torch from one tennis legend to another. It certainly was enough to make a grown man cry!

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