Two Legends Meet For First Time – Federer and Nicklaus

Written by: Staff on 1st July 2012

The Championships - Wimbledon 2012: Day Six

Two Legends Meet For First Time - Federer and Nicklaus

epa03289683 Golfer Jack Nicklaus of USA (L) meets six-time Wimbledon Champion Roger Federer of Switzerland on day six of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club at Wimbledon, Britain, 30 June 2012. EPA/Paul Gilham / POOL |

Golf legend Jack Nicklaus met tennis superstar Roger Federer for the first time on Saturday at The Championships.

Nicklaus, an 18-time major golf champion, admitted to watching more tennis than he does golf. He started playing tennis growing up in Ohio and today plays the sport “about 10 times a month”.

Speaking to the Tennis Channel, the 72-year-old American, nicknamed ‘The Golden Bear’, said, “I probably watch more tennis than I do golf. I follow the golf, I know what is going on, but I don’t really watch it.”

When asked whether there was more chance of Tiger Woods’ overtaking his record haul of golf majors or Rafael Nadal surpassing Federer’s mark of 16 Grand Slam championship titles, Nicklaus said, “Tiger has been struggling, but his work ethic and he has had the desire to pass my record since he was a little kid. Rafa is fantastic, but he also has Djokovic to worry about right now. Not too many people beat him.”

Nicklaus first visited the All England Club in the early 1970s, ahead of practise rounds for The Open golf championship.

Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan told ATPWorldTour.com at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome, six weeks ago, that they are hoping to practise at Nicklaus’ home, on one of his three grass courts, between Wimbledon and the London Olympics.

Topics: All England Club, Bryan Brothers, Jack Micklaus, Roger Federer, Sports, Tennis News, Wimbledon 2012