Sports
Super Roger
From Basel to Paris, to Kilchberg, up to London: Roger never stops!
Just 24 hours after his victory at Paris-Bercy, Roger Federer was at the Lindt headquarters in Kilchberg to meet with fans, media and open a chocolateria.
Roger Federer, Maitre chocolatier and CEO Ernst Tanner at Lindt headquarters before the opening of the chocolateria
One week ago Roger Federer won for the 5th time the Davidoff Swiss Indoors. This Sunday he won for the first time in his career, the ATP tournament Paris Bercy, beating in final the French player Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (6:1/7:6).
The night of his victory, he managed to fly back to Zurich to make it to his friend, Gavin Rossdale’ s concert. Roger is a fan of the British group Bush, with whom he celebrated a little after the show.
After all of this, Federer will need a well deserved break. This week he said he will use the time to catch up with some sleep.
Federer talks to reporters on November 14th, Lindt headquarters in Switzerland
Woke up at 4:00 a.m. on the night of the final in Paris by one of his twin daughters, it did not prevent him to win in two sets and 1h25 minutes.
Despite all of the last few weeks excitement, Federer looked refreshed yesterday afternoon. As the charming gentleman we know him for, he smiled, patiently answered all questions and even paused for some private photos with journalists.
Questions about his career, his love for chocolate and about Christmas were the reporters favorite. Some of the first questions asked to Roger were: “Can you say Roger is back?”, “Do you feel strong?” and “Will 2012 be Roger’s year”?
Roger is really looking forward to next year, all of the Grand Slam tournaments of course and the Olympics. He will then have to see how it goes. He has to make a lot of compromises as he travels a lot. There are many challenges, but “I am glad I am not a rock star” he said smiling, like his friend, Gavin, who is one day in one place and the next day somewhere else. Gavin Rossdale had to fly to Luxembourg before his next concert tonight in Amsterdam.
Roger said he is happy with what he accomplished the last few weeks but he also told journalists “one cannot play all tournaments exactly as well”.
Roger Federer and the Lindt chocolate at Lindt in Kilchberg
I asked Roger which of all the Grand Slam tournaments, if he had to choose only one, would he like to win next year, and why? He replied, “I have no preference, they are all important…of course I love Wimbledon because all of my idols Edberg, Becker won there…and then there is the Australian Open…”
And Paris then? I asked “Yes, of course where I won in Roland Garros in 2009 and with my victory in Paris Bercy yesterday”.
I told Roger how much the French love him and I wished him all the best for next year and hope he wins the Grand Slam.
From Sunday November 20th Federer will be competing in the last tournament of the season, the Barclay ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 Arena in London. The tournament welcomes each year the eight best players in the world. Roger Federer has qualified for it since 2002.
After that, “Super Roger” as the CEO of Lindt, Ernst Tanner, called his brand ambassador, will take a vacation and spend Christmas with his family in a sunny place to get ready for next year.
So as we say here in Switzerland “Toi, toi, toi” – All the Best for Roger for London and 2012!
