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Roger Federer was seen animatedly supporting the Springboks’ win against the All Blacks at the 2023 Rugby World Cup final at Stade de France in Paris on Saturday.

The tennis star looked quite anxious when the camera panned across to him midway in the first half of the match and at one point, he was pictured holding his head in his hands after New Zealand scored a try during the second half.

If you’re wondering why the non-rugby-playing Swiss tennis 20-time Grand Slam winner supports the Springboks, it’s because he has a few connections to this country.

Federer’s mother Lynette (née Durand) was born in South Africa and grew up in Kempton Park, Gauteng. Per Tennis365, Lynette married Robert Federer, who is Swiss-German and became a Swiss national, allowing Roger to also have South African citizenship.

 

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Besides having some roots in SA, Roger as a star sports player, recognises good game when he sees it, and is thus friends with two of everyone’s favourite Saffas – 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.

 

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Kolisi 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.

“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.”

Cuties:

 

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It’s nice to know that the dude also puts his money where his mouth is, supporting early education in South Africa through the Roger Federer Foundation:

 

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That’s more than billionaire Elon Musk does for SA, having been born here himself, nogal.

Anyway, Roger had a blast at the RWC final, settling into the celebrations with the Bokke like a champ. He 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 Federer was in attendance to support South Africa’s Springboks in the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final.

He is a South African citizen.

Novak Djokovic also attended the game. pic.twitter.com/pB2U8wMbay

— Africa Facts Zone (@AfricaFactsZone) October 28, 2023

After the match, the former world No 1 met up with the Springbok players – and got the legendary Faf de Klerk SA flag speedo meet and greet:

What’s a #RWC celebration without a customary Faf de Klerk speedo meet and greet 😂 #StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/u5nvOgAfVS

— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) October 28, 2023

That was before everyone pulled in for a selfie with the tennis icon:

Locker room of LEGENDS!

Roger Federer met the Springboks after their Rugby World Cup title on Saturday night.

(🎥@rugbyworldcup)pic.twitter.com/iJTzj5dUV6

— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) October 29, 2023

Ja, hey. Game recognises game, as they say.

[source:tennis365]