Roger Federer is remembered as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, but away from the court, his most enduring partnership has been with Mirka Federer. The couple has been together for more than two decades and married since 2009, building a family life that has remained remarkably close despite the demands of Federer’s extraordinary career.
Mirka, whose maiden name is Vavrinec, was not simply the wife of a tennis superstar. She was an accomplished tennis player herself and understood the pressures of professional sport from personal experience.
Who Is Mirka?
Mirka Federer was born Miroslava Vavrinec and is Slovak-born but grew up in Switzerland. She pursued professional tennis and reached a career-high singles ranking of No. 76 in 2001. She also competed at Grand Slam events, establishing herself as a respected player before her career was cut short.
Her own experience on the professional circuit gave her an unusual connection with Federer. She understood tournament travel, training demands and the intense scrutiny surrounding elite tennis.
How They Met
Federer and Mirka first became close while representing Switzerland at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Federer was just 18 at the time, while Mirka was 21. According to the ATP Tour, the pair shared their first kiss during the Olympics. Their relationship continued after the Games, and they later represented Switzerland together at the 2002 Hopman Cup.
What began during their playing days eventually developed into one of tennis’s most recognizable long-term relationships.
Her Tennis Career
Before becoming known primarily as Federer’s wife, Mirka had her own professional career.
She reached No. 76 in the WTA rankings in 2001 and competed at the highest level of women’s tennis. However, a persistent foot injury eventually made it impossible for her to continue competing professionally.
Mirka retired from competitive tennis in 2002, when she was only 24. Her retirement came just as Federer’s own career was beginning to accelerate toward the historic success that would define his legacy.
Their Wedding
Roger and Mirka married on April 11, 2009, in Basel, Switzerland. The ceremony was a relatively intimate family occasion rather than the sort of enormous celebrity wedding that might have been expected for one of sport’s biggest stars.
Their marriage came only months before they became parents for the first time, beginning another extraordinary chapter in their lives.
The couple has now been married for more than 17 years.
Two Sets of Twins
One of the most distinctive features of the Federer family is that Roger and Mirka have two sets of twins.
Their twin daughters, Myla Rose and Charlene Riva, were born on July 23, 2009. Five years later, the couple welcomed twin boys, Leo and Lenny, on May 6, 2014.
The girls are identical twins, while Leo and Lenny are fraternal twins.
The children regularly appeared in the stands during Federer’s playing career, particularly at major tournaments. Their presence became a familiar sight for tennis fans around the world.
Life Behind Federer
Mirka’s role in Federer’s career has often extended well beyond that of a supportive spouse.
Because she had experienced professional tennis herself, she was familiar with the lifestyle surrounding the sport. She traveled with Federer and became a constant presence at tournaments, helping him maintain a sense of family while his professional commitments took him around the world.
Federer has frequently spoken warmly about the importance of his family. After retirement, he joked that he had effectively become a driver, organizer and logistics manager for his four children.
That comment offered a glimpse into how dramatically his daily routine changed after leaving professional tennis.
Family After Retirement
Federer officially retired from professional tennis in 2022, but retirement did not mean disappearing from the sporting world.
He continues to make appearances at major tournaments and events. In 2026, he returned to Wimbledon, where he has continued to visit since ending his competitive career.
Mirka has also remained a familiar presence alongside him at selected public events.
In 2025, the couple were photographed together in the Royal Box at Wimbledon, continuing their long association with the tournament where Federer won a record eight men’s singles titles.
Their Children Today
The Federer children have grown up largely away from the relentless attention that surrounded their father during his playing career.
Now teenagers, Myla, Charlene, Leo and Lenny have occasionally accompanied their parents to sporting and cultural events. Recent family photographs have shown the four siblings together, offering fans a rare look at their lives away from the tennis court.
Federer has also spoken openly about the challenges and joys of raising teenagers, describing fatherhood as a completely different kind of challenge from professional tennis.
Roger Federer’s career produced 20 Grand Slam singles titles, 103 tour-level championships and more than 1,250 match victories. Yet alongside those sporting achievements stands another lasting accomplishment: the family he built with Mirka.
From meeting as young tennis players in Sydney to raising four children together, their relationship has followed Federer through the defining stages of his life.
Mirka’s own tennis background means she has always understood what life at the top of professional sport demands. That shared experience has helped make their partnership distinctive.
