Not Novak Djokovic, Rishabh Pant picks this legend as favourite tennis player, says 'I would watch it again and again'

India Test vice-captain Rishabh Pant, who attended the Wimbledon 2025 tournament after the second Test match against England, has named Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer as his favourite player, and his backhand is something he would "watch again and again".

Alongside Indian and international cricket stars like Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Sunil Gavaskar, James Anderson, Joe Root, Jasprit Bumrah etc, Pant has been another star attraction at the lawns of Wimbledon's Centre Court.

After the Wimbledon clash, Pant said about his favourite tennis player, Federer, a record-breaking eight-time Wimbledon champion and overall 20-time Grand Slam champion.

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"It has to be Roger Federer (his favourite tennis player). His backhand, I would watch it again and again. That was something that really brought me to the court. From the current players in this year's Wimbledon, I really like the new generation. (Carlos) Alcaraz (the defending champion) is amazing; the kind of fight he showed in the French Open was incredible. Even when you are in a tough spot, he showed you can still fight back, and he actually won! That was so inspiring. I also like Jannik Sinner (the world number one). These two are the ones I am really looking forward to watching," Pant said.

Pant said that there are "a lot of things" that draw him to Wimbledon, one of them being the excitement.

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"You want to experience something as a fan as well, because we are always playing cricket. But here, you get to watch someone who can inspire you. That inspiration comes from athletes, the kind who play tennis. It is amazing. And I finally get to dress well! We are usually in shorts and t-shirts, so wearing a suit feels good sometimes," he said.

Pant also reckons that the mindset is a similarity between cricket and tennis and that is the only thing which decides a lot about a player.

"You can play any sport, but if your mindset is not right, you cannot make it to the top. That is the difference between a good player and an excellent one. It sets you apart," he concluded.

Pant is currently Shubman Gill's deputy in the ongoing five-Test match series of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 taking place in England. The series is currently tied 1-1 after India's dominating win in the second Test match at Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham.