Roger Federer issued a fun challenge to fellow players at fans on social media to keep themselves occupied during the ongoing shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Swiss shared a one-minute video of a solo drill to try at home, where he rapidly volleyed a tennis ball against the wall. A lesson on volleying from one of the greats, what could be better? A funky hat and feedback from the master himself!
Here’s a helpful solo drill. Let’s see what you got! Reply back with a video and I’ll provide some tips. Choose your hat wisely 🎩😉👊 #tennisathome pic.twitter.com/05lliIqh1h
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) April 7, 2020
Federer tagged a bunch of other athletes to try it and asked everyone to share their videos doing the drill. He would watch the fan videos and give some tips. The only catch? You had to wear a hat while doing it. “Choose your hat wisely,” Federer wrote, flaunting a white wide-brimmed in the video.
Instantly, the fun fitness challenge blew up all over social media and the 38-year-old kept it going with witty replies to fans who shared the videos with hats on. “Don’t lean back, strong in the wrist,” Federer wrote to one person.
That was the right choice of hat,
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) April 7, 2020
Love the effort, sorry to your dad! 😬 🥴👍 https://t.co/COAFAVXhQJ
You do, love the flat cap.
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) April 7, 2020
Feel like I need one too 🤜 | 🤛 https://t.co/Z0VzYhZWtv
Among the celebrities who took up the challenge were Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff, and Martina Navratilova, footballer Toni Kroos, Hollywood star Hugh Jackman and skiers Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin.
Here is my and only take just now in our garden… pic.twitter.com/iyXlx4AjgK
— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) April 8, 2020
Challenge accepted... 😬 sorry for the 🎩 https://t.co/Oyo4AuSoeW pic.twitter.com/TB56HyjpXa
— Toni Kroos (@ToniKroos) April 7, 2020
I had to redo it because I got flamed for not wearing the hat😂 I hope my brother’s football helmet works out. @rogerfederer #tennisathome pic.twitter.com/HlC9ga7sTC
— Coco Gauff (@CocoGauff) April 8, 2020
@rogerfederer i am little further back on makeshift wall on construction 🔨 site the other day will try this one ☝️ next time 💪😎👊👍🎾 pic.twitter.com/PfCiuo53OI
— Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) April 7, 2020
I took on the @rogerfederer challenge, hat & all! Let’s do this @bambamsam30 @Babsschett @conchitamartinz @ChrissieEvert @Martina @BillieJeanKing @WTA @andreapetkovic @serenawilliams @JudyMurray @Clijsterskim @FlipperKF @toddwoodbridge @AmeMauresmo @caseydellacqua @Simona_Halep pic.twitter.com/QpRxkjgWgS
— Rennae Stubbs (@rennaestubbs) April 7, 2020
Long-time rival Novk Djokovic rose to the challenge as well, volleying the ball as good as the Swiss. The Serb didn’t wear a hat but the banter between the two made the exchange amusing nonetheless.
Novak Djokovic’s answer your Federer’s challenge! He also got a green wall. pic.twitter.com/RXaNoUStD0
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) April 7, 2020
This is how Federer responded to Djokovic 😆 pic.twitter.com/pwyl995Vfw
— Tennis24.com (@Tennis24_com) April 8, 2020
And then there was Andy Roddick, hilarious as usual.
. @rogerfederer I’d do the backboard challenge, but as you know as well as anyone, I don’t like to volley :)
— andyroddick (@andyroddick) April 7, 2020
And here’s India’s very own Leander Paes, taking the challenge to next level:
The frying pan challenge 😂🙌@Leander | #tennisathomepic.twitter.com/Rk3qB9atBQ
— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 8, 2020
Federer has also tagged Indian men’s cricket captain Virat Kohli in the video. Here’s hoping Kohli responds.