Savannah Guthrie had 'totally humiliating' moment interviewing her celebrity crush

Savannah Guthrie, the long-time host of 'The Today Show' on NBC, has always been open about her admiration for tennis legend Roger Federer. During a 2025 taping of 'The Tonight Show,' when asked about her celebrity crush, she humorously replied, "That's like asking, 'Savannah, what is your name?' Everybody knows that!"

Guthrie, who is 54 years old, has taken a break from her role at NBC following the disappearance of her mother in early February. She was originally scheduled to play a key role in NBC's coverage of the Winter Olympics.

In 2018, Guthrie had the opportunity to play tennis against Federer during a joint match and interview. Afterward, she spoke with Ellen DeGeneres and admitted that her performance was "humiliating."

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"I kept missing the ball — and Roger, he goes, 'Savannah, stop looking at me and start looking at the ball.' It was totally humiliating," Guthrie said on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. "I mean, I got to meet Roger, so it was crazy! He was really nice," she told Ellen DeGeneres. "He was like, ‘I feel like I know you.’"

Federer appeared on 'The Today Show' in 2024 to promote his biography, confirming the growing (non-romantic) relationship between the two celebrities.

Then, in January, Guthrie made an appearance alongside her co-host Craig Melvin on 'The Tonight Show.' Federer must have been watching, as he sent her a video message ahead of the 2025 Super Bowl (partially to help him promote running shoe brand On, which had a commercial during the big game).

"Hi Savannah, I hope you're doing well," the 20-time Grand Slam winner said. "It's been a long time since we last saw each other. Are you avoiding me ever so slightly? I'm not sure."

"Look, I've been with On for some time now, as you know," he continued. "A lot of people still mistake it for QC, which I'm surprised to hear. Now I went to get some help from this furry little friend of mine, and he's ultra-famous and super cute."

"I really hope you like it. You're the first to see it and come to Switzerland. See you soon, bye, Savannah," Federer finished.

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On February 1, Guthrie's mother, Nancy, went missing, according to the Pima County Sheriff's Department. Ring camera footage showed armed assailants arriving at her home that morning. Nancy Guthrie has not been seen since, and Savannah hasn't been on air since the incident.