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Federer hoping to play Wimbledon again

Darren WaltonAAP
Novak Djokovic (l) and Roger Federer (r) among the champions at Wimbledon's centre court centenary.
Camera IconNovak Djokovic (l) and Roger Federer (r) among the champions at Wimbledon's centre court centenary. Credit: AP

Roger Federer hopes to return for one last shot at Wimbledon after receiving a standing ovation at a poignant ceremony marking the centenary of tennis's most famous stage.

Federer was greeted with a deafening roar when he was the last of list of former champions including Australian greats Margaret Court, Rod Laver, John Newcombe, Pat Cash and Lleyton Hewitt to parade on to centre court on Sunday.

Sitting out the 2022 championships following more knee surgery, the 20-times grand slam champion who has won a men's record eight crowns at Wimbledon didn't disappoint when he addressed the adoring crowd.

"Just tried to be successful here and represent the sport well. I hope I did that and I hope I can come back ... one more time," Federer said, to great applause.

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Turning 41 next month, Federer has been sidelined for a year, his last outing a 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 6-0 quarter-final loss to Hubert Hurkacz.

The Swiss maestro had surgery soon after to repair damage to his meniscus and cartilage in his right knee - his third operation on that knee in 18 months.

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"I've been lucky enough to play a lot of matches on this court. Feels awkward to be here today in a different type of role," said Federer, who had participated in every Wimbledon since his main-draw debut in 1999.

"But it's great to be here with ... all the other champions. This court has given me my biggest wins, my biggest losses."

Federer has said he plans to return to tournament action at the Swiss Indoors in October.

"Of course I've missed being here. I would have loved to be here. I knew walking out here last year, it was going to be a tough year ahead. Maybe didn't think it was going to take me this long to come back. But the knee has been rough on me.

"I didn't know if I should make the trip, but I'm happy standing right here, right now."

While retired reigning women's champion Ash Barty and her Australian idol Evonne Goolagong were conspicuously absent, Federer was among more than two dozen Wimbledon singles winners to appear at a 35-minute tribute to a stadium that opened in 1922.

Past champions still playing this year included Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Simona Halep in singles, and Venus Williams in mixed doubles.

Andy Murray, whose 2013 Wimbledon singles trophy was the first for a British man in 77 years, Angelique Kerber and Petra Kvitova were other active players present.

And Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, Stefan Edberg and Goran Ivanisevic were others on hand from yesteryear.

Others absent like Barty - tied up playing exhibition golf in the US - were Martina Navratilova, who tested positive for COVID-19 and wrote on Twitter she was "gutted" to miss the occasion, Serena Williams and Pete Sampras.

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