Tennis
SA sports stars hail Federer
2012-07-09 11:40
Roger Federer (Gallo Images)
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Rob Houwing, Sport24 chief writer
Cape Town - Seven-time Wimbledon men’s singles title winner Roger Federer clearly has a large fan club among prominent South African sports folk.
GALLERY: Men's singles final: Roger Federer v Andy MurrayVIDEO: Andy Murray's tearful post-match interviewTweets flew in from them in the wake of his record-equalling (with Pete Sampras and William Renshaw) triumph over a courageous Andy Murray in the 2012 final on Sunday.
Several Proteas cricketers, preparing to open their UK tour account against Somerset at Taunton on Monday, weather permitting, took time out to join the praise-singing.
Seam bowler Vernon Philander (@VDP_24) said:
“Well done to the king of Wimbledon. Roger Federer absolute gun ... well deserved.”Veteran all-rounder Jacques Kallis (@Jacqueskallis75) added:
“Well done Roger Federer. What an athlete. A pleasure to watch.”Meanwhile another all-rounder, the now retired Shaun Pollock (@7polly7), had words of sympathy for tenacious Scot Murray:
“Murray will have won many fans through the way he played and the ‘realness’ of his interview.”Even more passionately, so did commentator Neil Manthorp (@NeilManthorp):
“Who the hell are the knobs who said Murray lacked grace, humility or personality? Certainly not me! What a speech. Tears welling up all over.”Another television personality, SuperSport’s versatile Neil Andrews (@NEILSUPERSPORT) said:
“I think Andy Murray won over many a sports fan. Brave on court and showed honest open-hearted humility in the post-match ceremony.”The South African rugby scene was also not slow to weigh in; here is a selection:
Odwa Ndungane (@OdwaNdungane14):
“Well Done King RF!!”Lwazi Mvovo (@lwazimvovo):
“And if u don’t know, now u know. Roger THAT!”Breyton Paulse: (@BreytonPaulse):
“Federer, The King of Grass, what a true champ, unique and pure class, well done. He must’ve broke a lotta British hearts. Miserable Murray, nuff said.”Bryan Habana (@BryanHabana):
“Roger Federer is an unbelievable athlete! A true professional! An iconic champion! Well done the Fed!”Keen surfer Rob Louw, the former Springbok loose forward (@roblouw6) could not resist a comparison:
“Kelly Slater 11 times world champion at 40. RF 7 times Wimbledon at 30. Who is the best athlete?”There was also a contribution from the Stormers’ temporary Canadian No 8 recruit Jebb Sinclair (@yebbathehut):
“I actually like Murray more after those tears. Takes a real man to cry.”*Follow our chief writer on Twitter: @RobHouwing