Roger Federer was in high spirits during the 2023 Rugby World Cup final at Stade de France in Paris, where he watched South Africa triumph over New Zealand. Following the match, he joined the Springboks in their celebration of their championship win.
The 20-time Grand Slam winner looked quite nervous when the camera panned across to him midway in the first half of the match and at one point during the second half he was seen holding his head in his hands after New Zealand scored a try.
However, there was a happy ending for the Federer family as the Springboks – as South Africa’s rugby team is known as – defeated their arch-rivals the All Blacks 12-11 to win their fourth World Cup.
Federer was joined in the private suits at Stade de France by his mother Lynette, his wife Mirka and their four children – twin girls Myla Rose and Charlene Riva, and twin boys Leo and Lenny.
Roger, Leo and Lenny all wore Springbok scarves and the relief was visible on all their faces once the final whistle was blown.
After the match the former world No 1 met up with the Springbok players – including scrumhalf Faf de Klerk in his now-famous Speedo with the colours of the South African flag – and everyone wanted a selfie with the tennis legend.
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There were even pictures with Springbok captain Siya Kolisa, forward Eben Etzebeth and the Webb Ellis Cup, which is awarded to the men’s Rugby World Cup champions, in the changing room.
But why does Roger Federer, who hails from non-rugby playing Switzerland and has played tennis all his life, support the Springboks?
Well, Federer’s mother Lynette (née Durand) was born in South Africa and grew up in Kempton Park, Gauteng (a province in South Africa).
She married Robert Federer, who is Swiss-German, and became a Swiss national. It all means Roger Federer also has South African citizenship through his mother.
And through that connection, Federer has become close friends with Springbok captain Kolisi as well as South African comedian Trevor Noah.
Back in 2020 Noah was part of the Match for Africa celebrations in Cape Town as the comedian partnered Rafael Nadal in the doubles match against Federer and Bill Gates.
Kolisi, meanwhile, met Federer during a sponsored event ahead of that record-breaking match and they became good buddies as the rugby star even visited the Federers in Switzerland in November 2021.
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“Yes, we do talk to each other every now and then and, when he found out that I was coming to Geneva, he invited me for lunch in Zurich. He is very attached to his South African origins,” Kolisi said.
He added: “I had a lunch in Zurich today with Roger Federer. Someone like him is so big here, but when you sit down with him, you forget how big an icon he is, because he is a normal human being.”
Federer also sent Kolisi and the Springboks a good luck message ahead of the Rugby World Cup, saying: “I just wanted to wish you and the Springboks all the best for the World Cup. I hope you are doing well with the rehab of your knee.
“I still remember being your Uber driver through Switzerland and taking care of you. I hope we can do it again and I hope we can see your wonderful family as well.
“Let’s go Springboks! You guys can do it and I am supporting you guys. I am not your No 1 fan because I don’t know all the rules, but I will be supporting you.”
And support them he did.
