Photo ReportFrom Centre Court To Old Bond Street: An Afternoon With Roger Federer At Rolex

While Wimbledon fever gripped London last week, I found myself in the presence of tennis royalty at an intimate gathering that had nothing to do with Centre Court. Roger Federer—eight-time Wimbledon champion and the man whose effortless elegance redefined the sport—was holding court at the Rolex boutique on Old Bond Street.

As a lifelong tennis fan who grew up mesmerized by Roger's fluid one-handed backhand (and wondering how his hair always looked so perfect), being there felt surreal. Wearing a Rolex Land-Dweller—the same watch, I suspect, he sported while making fondue to tease its announcement ahead of Watches and Wonders earlier this year—Federer sat in conversation with tennis legend Vijay Amritraj. Roger was everything you'd expect: humble, gracious, and genuinely wonderful with his time and attention to everyone there.

The event took place on a perfect sunny summer day in London at the Mayfair boutique, which opened in March, and is owned by Watches of Switzerland (who owns Hodinkee). The heat wasn't just on the champions' wrists—the guests wore some truly beautiful pieces as well. You can see a few down below (and more to come on Instagram), but for now, scroll through these images for scenes from the event! The countdown to Wimbledon 2026 starts now.