Mary Carillo & Roger Federer Receive Commemorative Blazers at Fit for Fame Dinner
by Joel Drucker, historian-at-large
Over the course of a dinner event and a sparkling series of discussions and testimonials, incoming International Tennis Hall of Fame (ITHF) inductees Mary Carillo and Roger Federer revealed many of the attributes that have made them legends.
The occasion was Fit for Fame, the Blazer Presentation Dinner. The locale: the ITHF’s indoor courts, reconfigured to accommodate over 80 tables and 900 attendees. More than 30 Hall of Famers were also in attendance, each wearing commemorative blazers as they gathered to witness Carillo and Federer be presented with blazers of their own by ITHF president and Hall of Famer Kim Clijsters.
The lining inside Carillo’s Brooks Brothers blazer was adorned with photos that spanned her epic life – from days and nights as a famed broadcaster to her playing career to a childhood spent in Douglaston, New York. Douglaston was the place where Carillo first picked up a tennis racket, soon enough playing frequently with a local boy two years younger than her named John McEnroe.
Fittingly, McEnroe joined Carillo on-stage. “Two kids from Queens,” he said in awe of how much each had accomplished – including a run together to the 1977 Roland-Garros mixed doubles title. True to form, Carillo demonstrated what has made her a superb storyteller, regaling the audience with various tales. One: When McEnroe was 12 and already exceptionally skilled, the 14-year-old Carillo told him that one day he would be ranked number one in the world. Replied McEnroe: “Shut up.” As Carillo has said, “This was my first venture into commentary – and my first review.”
But all since have come to know that Carillo’s spirit of inquiry has been her lifelong superpower. Later in the evening, Hall of Famer Martina Navratilova raised a glass and requested a public toast for Carillo. “They say curiosity killed the cat,” said Navratilova. “But curiosity got Mary here.”
After being presented with his blazer, Federer was interviewed by Jim Courier and praised two Hall of Famers who have been lifelong peers and rivals, Lleyton Hewitt and Marat Safin. Inspired by each of their runs to Grand Slam titles, Federer said, “Maybe I can do it too.”
Courier noted how as the victories came in cascade-like succession, Federer did something rare for those sitting at the top of the tennis throne: He embraced and savored all that being a champion entailed.
Indeed, from a wait in line for food at a tournament, to hours of practice, rain delays, handling the logistics of traveling the world with his family, sponsor events, media interviews, and all the pressures of competition, the highly driven Federer has always appeared more relaxed than any champion the sport has ever seen. The world awaits how the Swiss legend’s mix of tranquility and passion will surface when he delivers his induction speech Saturday evening.
