Federer and Carillo Share Heartfelt Moments at Newport Hall of Fame Induction

NEWPORT, R.I. — Four years after retiring from professional tennis and five years since his final Wimbledon singles appearance, Roger Federer, the Swiss virtuoso who embodied the sport many aspire to, was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Clad in a tan suit, crisp white shirt and blue tie that echoed the blazers in the audience, Federer walked across the historic grass courts of Newport — long regarded as the cradle of American tennis — before a crowd of over 5,000 gathered in two viewing areas for an event that has often lingered on the periphery of the summer sports schedule. There, he added his name to the annals of the game.

Federer did not enter the Hall alone. Earlier that evening, Mary Carillo — former player, pioneering broadcaster and journalist — received her own induction. Together, they shared more than a ceremony; their remarks paid tribute to the individuals who form their personal halls of fame, the mentors and loved ones who helped them reach that stage.

“Mary Carillo is among the world’s finest storytellers,” said tennis legend Billie Jean King while introducing Carillo.

King recounted meeting Carillo just months before she and her Douglaston, Queens neighbor captured the mixed doubles title at the 1977 French Open — a partner later known as John McEnroe.

Carillo, whose playing career was curtailed by injury, broke barriers as the first full‑time female commentator in tennis and later built an award‑winning journalism career, including hosting Olympic broadcasts for NBC.

“She’s truly a trailblazer,” King added.

Carillo also found herself the 273rd Hall of Fame inductee this year — a slot that, by design, required a warm‑up act. The Hall restructured its schedule to create a Federer‑focused celebration, matching the occasion’s atmosphere.

In the end, Federer enjoyed the spotlight. Carillo delivered a speech that was simultaneously rousing, witty and tender, making it a tough act to follow.

“What an honor to honor Roger, this funny‑looking guy over there,” Carillo said.

“He operates on a plane few of us can ever imagine.”

It is often said that elite athletes struggle to articulate their sport and achievements. Federer began his remarks somewhat hesitantly, listing Grand Slam totals and career numbers with a hint of stiffness. As the evening progressed and emotion surfaced — as he knew it would — he shattered that stereotype, describing tennis as “a complex and beautiful thing.”

That sentiment resonated as he played, explaining why the Hall’s grounds were packed for hours before a ceremony usually relegated to an afterthought on the summer calendar even began. The scene resembled the sea of “RF” hats seen at his farewell doubles match with Rafael Nadal at the 2022 Laver Cup.

“I’m still writing my love letter to tennis,” he said near the close of a tear‑filled speech brimming with gratitude for everyone who supported his journey. “This is not a goodbye.”

The question on everyone’s mind — who would induct him? — lay between Carillo’s brilliant performance, which included a poem about the rivalries she has witnessed, and Federer’s heartfelt roll call.

Last year, Serena Williams surprised the audience by inducting Maria Sharapova, a move that stood out given their contentious history on tour.

Federer faced fewer rivalries during his playing days, and many candidates were mentioned. Rafael Nadal was the popular guess, especially after Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray attended Nadal’s French Open tribute the previous year.

Instead, the honor went to someone even more fitting. Mirka Federer stepped to the microphone to embody the partnership they forged on and off the court — as husband and wife, parents, and, according to Roger, his coach, hitting partner and stylist.

She rarely speaks in public, yet she delivered her remarks with ease.

“When we first met, he had zero ATP titles,” she deadpanned.

She recalled Andy Roddick, seated in the front row, once remarking after losing to Federer in the Cincinnati Open final, “I can’t believe I lost to a guy whose girlfriend warmed him up.”

Mirka had the best view of Roger’s career, recounting how he insisted on bringing their two sets of twins on tour for the final twelve years of his professional life.

“Those values have guided him through every chapter of his life,” she said.

Then it was Federer’s turn. He had long surprised himself by becoming a sports figure unafraid to show emotion publicly — something he admits still makes him nervous, even though that vulnerability lets people see beyond the ice‑cool champion who seemed to win without breaking a sweat.

This aspect contributed to an induction unlike any Newport had witnessed.

“Fame was never the aim,” Federer told the crowd. “The goal was to do something I love with the people I love.”

He recalled being a thirteen‑year‑old ballboy in Basel, the soreness in his legs, and learning the game with his father’s wooden racket and white balls.

“That’s how old I am,” he remarked.

His voice caught when he mentioned two deceased coaches, Peter Carter and Peter Lundgren, and when he spoke of his childhood idol, Stefan Edberg, seated before him, who came aboard to mentor him. He became emotional again when he thanked his longtime coach, Severin Lüthi, with whom he has worked for eighteen years.

Whether he intended it or not, those feelings began to flow.

This was not his Dartmouth College commencement address of 2025, filled with lessons on rising after a fall. He said the other day he had no desire to teach a class, yet in delivering a litany of thank‑you’s that would shame any Oscar speech, he essentially did.

“I need tissues and sunglasses. I need everything to protect me,” he said as his voice cracked and his eyes welled. “This is such a mess.”

Indeed, the player and person who appears to glide effortlessly through life stumbled through his speech as he approached the portion he privately called “the Mirka bit.”

Roger Federer struggled to hold back his emotions during his address. (Photo: Joe Buglewicz / Getty Images)

“We grabbed hands and ran through walls,” he said of his wife.

Federer explained that he had a simple plan through his 4,040 competitive singles sets.

“I tried to show my love for the game. It mattered to me, and I wanted it to matter to you,” he said.

Mission accomplished there.

He described the sport as “a volcano of pressure,” but also paid homage to the lighter moments he misses, the camaraderie in the locker room and playing cards until the last moments before his matches. He urged players to stay young at heart and to strive the way he did, to “do things with the game we have never seen before,” he said. “Keep getting better and better and better.”

And then there was a last nod to the kids like him, who still play on courts they draw with chalk on the streets where they love and the ballkids who watch the game with one knee on the clay. He promised he would always see the game through their eyes.

He knows those eyes well. They’re the same thousands of eyes that travelled to a little town in New England this weekend to watch a great one perform one more time.

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