Roger Federer returns to Wimbledon, watches Novak Djokovic on Centre Court

Eight-time tournament champion Roger Federer returned to the hallowed lawns of Wimbledon on Monday with a keen eye on his longtime rival Novak Dokovic.

Looking cool in a blue suit and shades with his Wimbledon member's badge, Federer took his seat in the Royal Box alongside his wife Mirka to sustained applause. The couple joined other notable names in the invitation-only seats that included King Frederik X of Denmark, comedian Michael McIntyre and Michael and Carole Middleton—the parents of Kate, Princess of Wales.

While Federer was set to watch Djokovic face Alex de Minaur for a spot in the quarterfinals, among other matches on Monday, the Serb said earlier in the tournament that he hoped to see Federer one day outside of the Royal Box in the not-so-distant future.

Read more: Alex de Minaur gets crack at Novak Djokovic a year after hip tear prevented Wimbledon clash

After he surpassed Federer's record for most Wimbledon third-round appearances with a defeat of Brit Dan Evans, Djokovic joked that he hoped to reflect on the magnitude of his, Federer's and Rafael Nadal's accomplishments while they "sip margarits on the beach."

"I don't pause to reflect, to be honest. I don't have time," Djokovic said in his on-court interview. "I would like to. But I think that's going to come probably when I set the racquet aside and then sip margarita on the beach with Federer and Nadal and just reflect on our rivalry and everything."

Djokovic later joined Federer as the only two men to score 100 match wins at the All England Club when he defeated fellow Serb Miomir Kecmanovic in the third round.

Speaking to International Tennis Hall of Famer Vijay Amritraj at a Rolex activation ahead of the tournament, Federer said that Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner all had an "equal chance" of lifting the trophy this year.

"Once you reach the semis, all of a sudden the better ball strikers become the favorites, not just the better movers," he said. "Maybe Carlos has a slight edge, just because he’s two-time defending champion. Then perhaps Novak. We’ll see."