ARGENTINA: TENNIS - World number two Roger Federer to face Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro in an exhibition match in Buenos Aires.
Record ID:
447239
ARGENTINA: TENNIS - World number two Roger Federer to face Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro in an exhibition match in Buenos Aires.
- Title: ARGENTINA: TENNIS - World number two Roger Federer to face Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro in an exhibition match in Buenos Aires.
- Date: 11th December 2012
- Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (DECEMBER 11, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF HOTEL SWISS TENNIS PLAYER, CURRENT WORLD NUMBER TWO, ROGER FEDERER, ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE FEDERER AND ARGENTINE TENNIS PLAYER, JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO AT THE START OF A NEWS CONFERENCE FEDERER AT NEWS CONFERENCE VARIOUS OF FEDERER AND DEL POTRO GENERAL VIEW OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) SWISS TENNIS PLAYER, CURRENT WORLD NUMBER TWO, ROGER FEDERER, SAYING: "In general you have in this country, and then just getting to meet, you know, the local people, who I see some when I am travelling, but it's always different being in the country itself. People are probably more relaxed, more at ease where they are, and I'm sure they want to show me a good time. So, I am excited about all these things." NEWS CONFERENCE FEDERER SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) SWISS TENNIS PLAYER, CURRENT WORLD NUMBER TWO, ROGER FEDERER, SAYING: "They do stuff with their feet; I do my stuff with my hands. So, no, I mean you can't compare, I mean [LAUGHS]. Oh man, and ah I think, you know, Maradona has his place in history anyway because of his personality and of the way he played and his records. For Messi and myself, I think we're in a similar situation, though I think I am older than him [ASKS DEL POTRO]. How old is he, 25? 25. [ADDRESSING JOURNALISTS] But I mean we are both still playing. So we still have more to achieve or [we could] play bad in the future. So we still have to first finish our career very good to be considered, you know, great athletes. Of course what we have achieved nobody can take away from us so that's a sense of, you know, it gives you peace and quiet. Like you said, I am politically correct. I am never going to ever tell you who is the best, but I am happy you put me into the same league as them. That makes me very proud in this country, thank you." FEDERER AND DEL POTRO SEATED AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) DEL POTRO "I think Roger said it is very simple to be number one, but for him, right. For me it isn't something simple and I'd love to get some of his talent. [JOURNALIST ASKING: WOULD YOU HIRE HIM?] Yes I'd hire him for the rest of my life, it would definitely give me confidence. But I think, I don't know if one day I'll be able to play like him, but just being part of this moment where history is being made every day is a big honour for me and also to fight for this position with him and other greats is really great." SMARTPHONE TAKING A PICTURE OF THE NEWS CONFERENCE FEDERER IMPERSONATOR DRESSED LIKE AND ACTING LIKE FEDERER PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE APPLAUDING FEDERER IMPERSONATOR SITTING DOWN FEDERER SPEAKING DURING NEWS CONFERENCE A MAN TAKING PICTURES FROM THE AUDIENCE FEDERER AND DEL POTRO STANDING UP AFTER NEWS CONFERENCE FEDERER DURING NEWS CONFERENCE DEL POTRO DURING NEWS CONFERENCE AUDIENCE APPLAUDING END OF NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 26th December 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Argentina
- Country: Argentina
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA79KTSBLUEDHEAK1IE10NVLUXM
- Story Text: World number two tennis player Roger Federer arrived to Buenos Aires Monday (December 10) where he will face local star, number seven ranked Juan Martin Del Potro in an exhibition match on Wednesday (December 12).
During a joint news conference on Tuesday (December 11), the Swiss champion said he was looking forward to his time in the South American country famous for soccer, beef and red wine.
"Just getting to meet, you know, the local people, who I see some when I am travelling, but it's always different being in the country itself. People are probably more relaxed, more at ease where they are, and I'm sure they want to show me a good time. So, I am excited about all these things," Federer said.
The 31-year-old claimed his seventh Wimbledon title this year and temporarily dislodged Novak Djokovic from the number one spot to break Pete Sampras's record of 286 weeks at the top of the rankings.
While in soccer-crazed Argentina, the Swiss maestro said it was too early to draw comparisons between him and Argentine soccer greats, and local heroes, Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi.
"They do stuff with their feet; I do my stuff with my hands. So, no, I mean you can't compare, I mean Oh man, and ah I think, you know, Maradona has his place in history anyway because of his personality and of the way he played and his records. For Messi and myself, I think we're in a similar situation, though I think I am older than him... How old is he, 25? 25... But I mean we are both still playing. So we still have more to achieve or [we could] play bad in the future. So we still have to first finish our career very good to be considered, you know, great athletes. Of course what we have achieved nobody can take away from us so that's a sense of, you know, it gives you peace and quiet. Like you said, I am politically correct. I am never going to ever tell you who is the best, but I am happy you put me into the same league as them. That makes me very proud in this country, thank you," said Federer.
Del Potro hopes to muscle his way into the world's top four next year after returning to the kind of form that propelled him to the U.S. Open title over Federer three years ago.
Federer had kind words for his exhibition opponent saying the 1.98 meter (6'6'') tall Argentine has a shot at claiming the number one position, something a humble Del Potro laughed off.
"I think Roger said it is very simple to be number one, but for him, right? For me it isn't something simple and I'd love to get some of his talent," he told journalists. "I don't know if one day I'll be able to play like him, but just being part of this moment where history is being made every day is a big honour for me and also to fight for this position with him and other greats is really great."
The two will face-off in an indoor venue north of Buenos Aires on Wednesday.
Both laughed it up as a Federer impersonator wowed the audience.
Federer ended the 2012 season with 71 match wins, reaching 10 finals.
Del Potro finished strong defeating Federer to reach the semi-finals at the season-ender at the ATP World Tour Finals in London, his second win over the Swiss maestro in as many weeks.
But number one Djokovic bested Federer to win the final title of the season in the final, blocking Federer from claiming a hat trick.
Federer comes from exhibition matches in Brazil and will continue his South American tour to Colombia later this week. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None