In 2013, teenage cancer survivor Beatriz Tinoco arrived at Wimbledon with one wish.
She wanted to meet Roger Federer.
The plan was simple. Federer was supposed to come over, shake her hand, say hello, and leave for practice.
But Roger stayed.
He sat beside Beatriz and talked with her for nearly 15 minutes. Then, almost casually, he told her to go change into her tennis clothes.
She was going to practice with him.
There was just one problem.
Beatriz did not have a tennis racquet.
So Federer gave her one of his own.
They stepped onto the court and hit balls together. She practiced volleys with the man she had dreamed of meeting and even stood across the net to receive one of his serves.
But Federer still was not finished.
He helped give her a special Wimbledon experience, brought her into the players' lounge, and she found herself surrounded by stars like Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, David Ferrer and Tommy Haas.
Later, Federer personalized autographs for Beatriz and her family.
Then it was time to say goodbye.
He went around and hugged her mother, her father and her sister.
Finally, he reached Beatriz.
Federer wrapped his arms around her and acknowledged everything she had been through.
Beatriz began sobbing into his shoulder.
When she finally pulled away, she looked at her hero.
And according to Beatriz, Roger Federer was tearing up too.
He was supposed to stop by and say hello.
Instead, he gave a cancer survivor a day she would remember for the rest of her life
'Never mind that most of the rest of those invited to watch from the most sought-after seats in the house preferred to study the bar menu or leave entirely, the man who mattered was there'
'Roger Federer appears to be there just for the fun of it. Because he loves tennis. Even a contest like that between Zverev and Lehecka. And what a lift it must give to those involved knowing the man who matters is there to watch them'
@jimw1 has more 👇
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Djokovic has asked @Lacoste to make a similar suit for me- they said it’s not the suit sir it’s the man that has aura and played tennis with elegance and you did just ball retrieving like a mad dog