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Federer to tour South America


 

Originally published on: 26/03/12 12:51

Brazil will host the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics, but before those two global events the country will open its doors to another sporting superstar. Roger Federer is to play two exhibition matches in Brazil in December as part of an extension to his sponsorship agreement with Gillette.

The opponents and the venues have yet to be decided, but Federer confirmed that the matches will be part of a bigger tour of South America. He will be facing Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in a match in Colombia and is also hoping to play in Argentina.

“It’s exciting,” Federer said. “I remember playing juniors in Mexico, Costa Rica, Venezuela back in the day, probably 1996. This is obviously special to go to new places. For a world traveller it’s always exciting. People who know me know how much I love seeing new people, new countries and new cultures.”

Federer’s trip comes at a time when there are also talks about Brazil hosting the year-end ATP World Tour Finals. The current five-year agreement to stage the event at the O2 Arena in London expires at the end of next year.

“I think it’s great that hopefully many countries and cities would want to have the World Tour Finals, because it’s such a successful event,” Federer said. “We’re having a record crowd every single time we show up. It’s only normal that you have different interests, interested people around, especially with the Olympics and the World Cup going to Brazil. It’s a place that’s really buzzing at the moment, I would think, even though I have never been there.

“That’s why I’m so excited coming with the Gillette tour this December. I’m really excited. So I’d be happy if Brazil shows interest to have the World Tour Finals, but right now the tournament in London is very successful and very good. It’s a place that really can put on a great event.”

 

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Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.