Roger Federer‘s lavish post-Wimbledon party on Sunday afternoon was spoiled after a fire broke out. The 20-time Grand Slam champion hosted an extravagant party at a posh Wimbledon mansion after Jannik Sinner outlasted Alexander Zverev and successfully defended his title at the All England Club.
The small fire started after two women flicked out their cigarette butts on some wooden chips. According to the New York Post, nobody was injured during the incident. While speaking to the Sun, a guest recounted that there were a few “audible gasps” as people realised fire had broken out.
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Realising the gravity of the situation, the security team jumped into action and spent 20 minutes extinguishing the fire with “hoses and buckets of water.” The 400 guests present at the venue were asked to move away from the scene. The two women who had started the blaze were escorted out of the party, which also included a charity auction.
Among the guests, snooker player Steve Davis and MMA champ Tom Aspinall arrived for the event hosted by the eight-time Wimbledon champion. The party features special attractions, including a magician, a falconry display and some of British boxer Anthony Joshua’s belts, which were in a safe spot away from the fire.
A look back at Roger Federer’s record eight Wimbledon titles
More than two decades ago, Roger Federer carved his name in history by lifting his first Grand Slam at Wimbledon at a young age of 21 in 2003. When the former Swiss maestro revelled in his monumental success, he wasn’t aware that he would go on a five-year title-winning streak. In the next two decades, he will emerge as the most successful men’s player the tournament has ever witnessed.
For his first silverware, he trounced Australia’s Mark Philippoussis in straight sets, securing a 7-6 (7-5), 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) win. Next year, he crossed paths with the 2003 US Open champion Andy Roddick and scripted a 4–6, 7–5, 7–6(3), 6–4 victory. In 2005, it was last year’s rematch, and the American arrived with the sole ambition of avenging his defeat.
However, Roger Federer dampened Roddick’s mood with a 6–2, 7–6(2), 6–4 victory. In 2006 and 2007, Federer overwhelmed his arch-nemesis, Rafael Nadal, to bag his fourth and fifth SW19 titles. In 2008, the Spaniard ended Federer’s streak in a historic five-set thriller but failed to keep the Swiss star away from the title in 2009. Federer once again climbed his way to the final to set up the title clash with Roddick for the first time in his career. In a memorable clash, Federer survived the tense encounter for his sixth Wimbledon title.
He had to wait for the next three years for his seventh Wimbledon title in 2012. He scripted a comeback win over Andy Murray and claimed a 4–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–4 win. Roger Federer eventually made history in 2017 with his record-shattering eighth Wimbledon title with an emphatic 6–3, 6–1, 6–4 win over Marin Cilic.
Edited by Pritha Ghosh