Undivided devotion is usually associated with team sports. Travelling hundreds of miles to watch your heroes, supporting them through thick and thin. Naming a kid after a favourite player. Getting a tattoo.
Such shows of allegiance and love have not traditionally been associated with tennis players.
Yet Roger Federer and Serena Williams – two superstars who retired this month – have attracted devotion like few others.
And it felt fitting that two people born 49 days apart, who enjoyed era-defining parallel careers, called it a day within weeks of each other.
“These two players are irreplaceable. I don’t think there is any question about that,” said John McEnroe, another legendary tennis figure.
Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion who turned 41 this week, waved farewell amid emotional scenes at the US Open.
Three weeks later, 20-time major winner Federer, also 41, did the same at the Laver Cup in London.
Both occasions were full of pomp and ceremony, celebration and reflection. But most of all love.
The adoration is largely down to their huge success on the court, but also because of their personalities and star quality.
“It is going to be a big void to fill, no question,” said Merrick Haydon, managing director of international sports marketing agency Revolution’s London office. “Some fans will stay with the game forever because tennis is like all sports: when you’re in it you’re in it.
“But there are going to be some who will drop away.
“There is no doubt some won’t wake up at 3am to watch matches and may not plan vacations around a tennis major like they used to.”
Before all of Williams’ matches in New York there was a buzz outside Arthur Ashe Stadium, with many fans wearing Serena T-shirts in homage to a player who has been a huge inspiration, particularly to African-American women.
Printed slogans included ‘Serena. The Woman. The Myth. The Legend’ and ‘Unapologetic Greatness’. Others simply said ‘GOAT’.
The devotion inspired by Federer was clear at the O2 Arena.
The Fed Heads – an international travelling troupe arriving from places including Switzerland, Japan, Greece, Poland, Thailand and India – were a palette of red and white.
Caps, T-shirts, scarves, flags, even home-made earrings. And almost all emblazoned with one set of initials: RF.
Federer-loving mother and daughter Kaori and Sakiko Hosokawa, who travelled from near Tokyo, said tennis…
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