A Hero's Welcome
Tennis|Nov/Dec 2017

After beating cancer, Marc Krajekian became an inspiration to his family, his teammates—and Roger Federer

Blair Henley
A Hero's Welcome

His big hazel eyes wide with anticipation, 10-year-old Marc Krajekian walked excitedly onto the practice courts at the US Open this September. A guest of Paul Annacone, he thought he was heading over to hit a few balls with the longtime coach and commentator. Annacone had something else in mind.

“We were going on the court and we see Roger Federer and that made my day,” Krajekian says, oozing with his trademark enthusiasm. “I just yelled, ‘Oh my gosh!’ to my parents.”

Federer signed gear, took photos and even played a point with Krajekian just hours before he was scheduled to face Philipp Kohlschreiber in his fourth round match. It was a point—punctuated by a Krajekian lob winner—that neither player will ever forget.

“I think I’m privileged to be in a position where I can make a dream come true for other people,” Federer said afterward.

This story is from the Nov/Dec 2017 edition of Tennis.

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This story is from the Nov/Dec 2017 edition of Tennis.

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