Final was so tense I feared my wife would go into labour,' says Roger Federer
06th July 2009
Wimbledon champion Roger Federer may have crashed into the record books with his stunning win at the men's finals last night. But he revealed the tense final had him worried that wife Miroslava 'Mirka' would go into labour.
Federer's other big achievement for 2009 could clearly be seen as he arrived on the purple carpet at last night's Champions Dinner. The Swiss tennis champ was escorted by his eight months pregnant wife, 31, who was glowing with health despite being close to giving birth to the couple's first child.
Wearing a dark blue gown, and cheerful pink cardigan, Mirka gamely turned out to support her champion husband. And Federer today said his Wimbledon win over Andy Roddick was so tense he feared his pregnant wife Mirka would go into labour.
Mrs Federer was in the court-side box to see her Swiss husband collect a record 15th Grand Slam and reclaim the world No 1 spot. According to reports, Federer’s practice partner kept a mobile phone in his sock ahead of the match in case his wife went into labour.
The pair were more relaxed at the Champions’ Dinner at the Intercontinental Hotel in Hyde Park. Mrs Federer, due to give birth to their first child before the end of August, stayed for more than hour wearing a pink cardigan and dark blue maternity dress. Her husband ignored the black tie dress code and turned up in a dark suit and tie.
Federer, who beat No 6 seed Roddick 5-7, 7-6, 7-6, 3-6, 16-14 in the longest men’s final set, said: 'This is very special because of the situation with Mirka. In fact, she thought she was going to go into labour during the match and so did I! I will now regroup after this amazing win and people are asking what am I going to do now - and supporting Mirka is my answer.'