London, July 2025 – The global tennis community is in shock following a controversial statement from the heart of Wimbledon. In an interview leaked from sources close to the All England Club, the tournament’s current CEO, Charles Penwright, reportedly declined a special tribute to Roger Federer , considered by many to be the “King of Wimbledon.” The statement caused a stir on social media.
“Rafael Nadal is more elegant and deserves humanity,” Penwright said. “But the real reason we’re not honoring Roger this year is because he’s distanced himself from Wimbledon since retiring. There are internal tensions that the public isn’t aware of.”
This sentence was enough for millions of Federer fans to rush to the Swiss’s defense on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Reddit. Even celebrities like Novak Djokovic, Andy Roddick, and Billie Jean King defended him.
But the most surprising thing was not the CEO’s statement, but the short and powerful response from Federer , who took less than 12 hours to respond via his official channel:
“ The grass speaks for itself. ”
Five words. Five. But each one sparked a controversial debate. Within minutes, the hashtag #TheGrassSpeaks became a worldwide trend. Fans, former players, and analysts interpreted the message as an elegant yet decisive way to remind the world that Roger Federer is the only tennis player with eight Wimbledon singles titles and that his legacy doesn’t need official applause to shine .
Several British media outlets suspect that the leak could be part of an internal power struggle within the tournament’s organizing committee. Some members are pushing for a complete overhaul of the event’s image, focusing less on classic icons and more on current stars like Alcaraz and Sinner.
But for fans, that’s no excuse. ” Refusing to see a Federer tribute at Wimbledon is like refusing to see Shakespeare in the British theater ,” wrote one fan on BBC Sport. And he’s not alone.
Rafael Nadal has not yet commented publicly on the comparison or the controversy. Sources close to the Mallorcan claim he is “uncomfortable” with the situation and prefers to keep a low profile.
Meanwhile, it’s quiet on the hallowed turf of Wimbledon… but everyone knows he’s still speaking for Federer . Federer tribute, Wimbledon 2025, Nadal Wimbledon, Wimbledon controversy, Federer’s reaction, Federer-Nadal rivalry.
