Reem's diary: Roger still gets nervous as star names flock to SW19

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  • Roger Federer fan: Bradley Cooper dons a RF branded hat.

    Roger Federer had quite the audience for his quarter-final win against Marin Cilic with actor Bradley Cooper, football icon David Beckham, and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour all in attendance.

    Cooper sat in Federer’s box at Wimbledon last year, and Wintour is also a regular figure in his support crew.

    Federer said he particularly gets nervous when playing in front of sporting legends.

    “They’re really nice guys,” Federer said of Beckham and Cooper.

    “It’s cool when guys like this come out, or Jack Nicklaus is here. I love that. Sporting figures, or celebrities, it’s nice. It elevates the tournament as well.

    “Back in the day, I was nervous playing in front of my family, then in front of famous people, then in front of famous sports people, famous tennis players.

    David Beckham watches on.

    David Beckham watches on.

    “At the end of the day today what makes me nervous is playing before really legends of our sport.

    “That’s the only thing that still gets me nervous, when I see guys sitting watching my match. When I see them watching, I feel like ‘better play well, you don’t want to disappoint legends of our sport’.”

    Other famous faces in the Wimbledon stands this past week include One Direction’s Niall Horan, who had ditched the main show courts to go catch Eugenie Bouchard’s match with Dominika Cibulkova in the third round on Court No. 2. Actress Sienna Miller has also been here the past couple of days.

    The VIP guests usually enter from Gate 13, which is where most media go through as well because it is where tournament transport drops us off. It’s also where the paparazzi hang out waiting for the celebrities to show up. Here’s hoping I don’t end up photo-bombing a Bradley Cooper or a David Beckham one day.

    Taking in the action: Niall Horan.

    Taking in the action: Niall Horan.

    Meanwhile, there’s been a lot of football talk among the players here at Wimbledon with the Euros taking place at the same time but basketball has popped up on the agenda following the news of Kevin Durant joining the Golden State Warriors.

    “That is crazy. They are stacked,” was Serena Williams’ reaction to Durant’s decision.

    Nick Kyrgios, a huge Boston Celtics fan who even wrote a piece for The Players’ Tribune titled ‘Why I bleed green’, was far from thrilled by the latest news.

    “Disgrace. It’s a joke. I’m not watching the NBA,” said the Aussie of Durant’s move.

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