Roger Federer’s wife reveals legend nearly QUIT in 2008 for sweet reason in tear-jerking speech at Hall of Fame ceremony

ROGER FEDERER’s wife stole the show with a heartfelt and tear-jerking speech as he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. On Saturday night, the Swiss maestro, 45, was recognised by his peers and fellow players as he was inaugurated into the prestigious club at a glitzy, star-studded ceremony in Newport, Rhode Island. Roger Federer’s wife Mirka has revealed the tennis legend nearly retired in 2008 Credit: Getty Federer offered to walk away from the sport after she became pregnant with twins Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd A three-and-a-half hour drive from the US Open in New York, Federer was honoured by fellow players, administrators, TV pundits and fans in acknowledgement for his illustrious career. Federer, who retired from tennis four years ago, won 20 singles Championships, won 103 ATP titles and spent a combined 310 weeks as the world No.1. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! To many he is the greatest player to have played the sport, even if rivals Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic have amassed more Slams. Yet for this special occasion, Mirka broke with tradition to speak in public ahead of his induction – a rare moment in the spotlight. The pair met at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games when they both played for Switzerland. They got married in April 2009 and have four children – two sets of twins, boys and girls – and she has been by his side throughout his playing days. However, she has rarely stepped out of his shadow and spoken in front of the cameras – until this weekend. Mirka, 48, said: “It’s a little strange to be the one standing in front of the microphone. Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK Federer was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame this week Credit: Getty “Roger was always much more comfortable with a racquet in his hand. And I was always much more comfortable staying out of the spotlight. “Roger and I met at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. He was 18 and I was 21 – yes, I was the older woman. “Apparently, Roger decided right away that age was just a number. He persuaded me anyway and thankfully he was persistent. “When we met, he had exactly zero ATP titles. Zero. Looking back I suppose I was there for all 103 that followed. We shared quite a journey. “In those early days, I would sometimes even help him warm him up before matches. I had played professionally myself. “I still remember Andy Roddick joking after the Cincinnati final: ‘I cannot believe I lost to a guy whose girlfriend warms him up!’ He really said that. “One thing I learned immediately about Roger was he always wanted the people he loved close to him. “That is one of the qualities I have admired the most about him. Not just as a tennis player but as a person. “Everyone talks about Roger’s elegance on the tennis court and I understand why as much as anyone. Roger Federer won 20 Grand Slams during his glittering career Credit: Reuters Mirka hailed Federer as a ‘remarkable man’ after seeing his humility away from the tennis court Credit: Reuters “For so many years I had the best seat in the house. I watched him move with the grace that made one of the hardest sports in the world look almost effortless. “Believe me, I saw the work, the hours, the discipline, the commitment. I saw everything that made it look so easy. “Even after watching more than a 1,000 of his matches, it never stopped amazing me. “But tennis was never what impressed me the most. The man behind it all is even more remarkable. “He’s the most devoted father that our four children could ever ask for. “When I found out we were expecting twins, for the first time, I told Roger that my travelling days were probably over. “Without missing a beat, he said: ‘Then I won’t play anymore.’ He wasn’t being dramatic. He meant it. That’s who Roger is. His family comes first. “Fortunately we found another solution and that involved babies, strollers, toys, books and eventually two sets of twins travelling all over the world with us. “They know him as papa. The papa who read bedtime stories, played games with them, who ran their bath, who made them laugh, no matter how busy he was. “Whether he won or lost, he always made time for them. I know him always as the kind husband, funny, thoughtful and endlessly supportive.” Comment now