Switzerland hailed Roger Federer as a national hero on Monday after he became the first Swiss man to win a grand slam title with his emotional triumph at Wimbledon.
Just four months after the land-locked nation sailed to a surprise victory in the America's Cup, Switzerland's sporting pride was further boosted by the 21-year-old's 7-6 6-2 7-6 win against Australian Mark Philippoussis on Sunday.
"King Roger the first!" the mass-circulation Blick newspaper blazed across its front page on Monday. "All of Switzerland is celebrating Federer's Wimbledon win."
"A champion is born," the daily Tagesanzeiger said in a front-page editorial. "Full of fantasy, efficient and magical."
"Now Federer is being being hailed as a leading light who has freed his sport from a phase of monotony," the paper said. "That he won his first grand slam at Wimbledon proves to everyone that Federer has the makings of a champion."
"Switzerland could be proud of Alinghi, and now they can be just as proud of Federer," the paper said, referring to the Swiss yacht Alinghi's 5-0 win in the America's Cup against Team New Zealand in March -- the first European win in the Cup's 152-year history.
Swiss Martina Hingis, who won the Wimbledon women's crown in 1997, paid her own tribute to Federer.
{{/usCountry}}Swiss Martina Hingis, who won the Wimbledon women's crown in 1997, paid her own tribute to Federer.
{{/usCountry}}"Congratulations!" Hingis told the Blick. "Roger was masterful, it was very impressive. Winning at Wimbledon is a fantastic feeling. Something unforgettable."
Federer told the Swiss SDA news agency that he could not help but cry at the prize ceremony.
TEARS ON COURT
"At powerful moments, I am just like that," he said. "At first I think I can hold back the tears. But then I just start blubbing anyway."
But Federer modestly brushed aside comparisons made between him and American seven-times Wimbledon winner Pete Sampras.
"I am on my first win," he said. "I am still a long way from him. But it makes me very happy that my name is on the winners' board and that I am part of Wimbledon's history."
Swiss media have taken Federer to heart during the two-week grand slam in London, hailing the long-haired player as an everyday hero who has kept his feet on the ground thanks to the support of close family and friends.
"We have never pushed Rogers' progress -- really never," his father Robert told the Neue Zuercher Zeitung in an interview. "Even when he was just knee-high he was already running down the street with a tennis racquet."
Federer is due to return to Switzerland on Monday to play in the Swiss Open in Gstaad with his first match on Tuesday against a qualifier, Marc Lopez of Spain.