Roger Federer Joins Be Legendary at Wimbledon
The soon-to-be Hall of Famer encouraged youth participants to find their greatness on and off the court in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Wimbledon Junior Tennis Initiative
The International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Be Legendary program returned to Wimbledon earlier today, where eight-time Wimbledon gentlemen’s singles champion, Roger Federer joined local children for a special experience on the indoor courts of The All England Lawn Tennis Club.
The Be Legendary event, which was held in partnership with the 25th anniversary of the Wimbledon Junior Tennis Initiative, sought to show young players the incredible life lessons tennis has to offer through the lens of the Hall of Fame, and foster a deeper connection through the sport. As part of the experience, Federer joined the children on court for skills and drills, giving them a once-in-a-lifetime memory that reflected the program’s mission of connecting the next generation with the legends who have shaped tennis.
"Being Legendary – it’s doing something exceptional for a long period of time and then using that power to pass it on to other people. Inspiring others to also achieve their greatness," said Roger Federer. "So the program here at Wimbledon, giving back to the kids and the community and inspiring and motivating kids to go out on the tennis court or go out and play sports – it’s one thing talking about it, it’s one thing hearing about it – but it’s also another thing visually being there and actually being in touch with them and giving some advice...and actually truly showing and showcasing what a great sport tennis is. My biggest passion in life has been tennis - it’s given me everything I could ever ask for and more."
Be Legendary is the ITHF’s global youth initiative, created to inspire and empower players ages 10 to 18 by connecting them with tennis history, values, and legendary players. Since 2025, the program has connected hundreds of young players with Hall of Famers across the globe, making stops in London, Melbourne, New York City, Miami, Dallas, Indian Wells and more to encourage youth players to discover their own personal greatness, both on and off the court.
"Be Legendary is so much more than a single moment on court. It’s about giving young players a lasting connection to the values and history that define tennis,” said ITHF President, Patrick McEnroe. “Hosting this event at Wimbledon allowed us to bring that mission to life in one of our sport’s most prestigious and storied settings.”
This year also marks the 25th anniversary of Wimbledon’s Learning program, an award-winning initiative that has created meaningful experiences for learners of all ages over the past quarter century and has connected with more than 125,000 people. The WJTI is funded by the Wimbledon Foundation, the official charity of the All England Club and The Championships.
Paige Murphy, Head of the Wimbledon Foundation, said, "We’re incredibly proud to celebrate 25 years of our Wimbledon Junior Tennis Initiative which has introduced nearly 300,000 children from our local community to tennis. We can't think of a more fitting way to mark this milestone than by giving these young players the opportunity to share the court with eight-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer. We hope this once-in-a-lifetime experience creates lasting memories, inspires a lifelong love of tennis, and encourages them to pursue their dreams both on and off the court.”
