Fed in South Africa this week!

B A Y

Rookie
So Fed coming to South Africa this week!! He will be in JHB to see Nelson Mandela and then going to his foundation in Port Elizabeth!

Any ideas of where he would stay in JHB? Would love to go find him!
 

Towser83

G.O.A.T.
He obviously tanked the match with benny. He's gotta better things to do like next Nelson and tell him how they are the two most trusted people in the universe. how nice of him to play rotterdam though.
 

mariecon

Hall of Fame
He obviously tanked the match with benny. He's gotta better things to do like next Nelson and tell him how they are the two most trusted people in the universe. how nice of him to play rotterdam though.

The opportunity probably came up and he has said one of his dreams was to meet Mandela. It's possible that it was now or never. What would you do in that case? Keep playing a 500 tourney or go meet one of your heros who may not be around much longer? I'm not saying he tanked the match but that maybe he didn't try so hard. :wink:
 

Goosehead

Legend
He obviously tanked the match with benny. He's gotta better things to do like next Nelson and tell him how they are the two most trusted people in the universe. how nice of him to play rotterdam though.

the 2 most trusted people in the universe ?? :)

like the good old days when he and rafa were world no 1 and 2 :twisted::)
 

Emet74

Professional
The opportunity probably came up and he has said one of his dreams was to meet Mandela. It's possible that it was now or never. What would you do in that case? Keep playing a 500 tourney or go meet one of your heros who may not be around much longer? I'm not saying he tanked the match but that maybe he didn't try so hard. :wink:

I don't know what you mean by "opportunity." Fed can schedule a visit to SA for his Foundation whenever he wants to.

If he'd played the Rotterdam final, presumably he would have just left later on Sunday, or gone Monday, or done it some other time.

It's not like he got some sort of invitation from Mandela - his initial interviews only said that he "hopes" to meet him and his people had been in touch w/ Mandela's people.

I don't think for a moment Roger came to Rotterdam not intending to play the final. That would not only be unprofessional, but it's completely unlike him.
Benneteau's beaten him before indoors, and went up 2-0 in sets at Wimby. There's no need of conspiracy theories to explain the loss.
 

cc0509

Talk Tennis Guru
I don't know what you mean by "opportunity." Fed can schedule a visit to SA for his Foundation whenever he wants to.

If he'd played the Rotterdam final, presumably he would have just left later on Sunday, or gone Monday, or done it some other time.

It's not like he got some sort of invitation from Mandela - his initial interviews only said that he "hopes" to meet him and his people had been in touch w/ Mandela's people.

I don't think for a moment Roger came to Rotterdam not intending to play the final. That would not only be unprofessional, but it's completely unlike him.
Benneteau's beaten him before indoors, and went up 2-0 in sets at Wimby. There's no need of conspiracy theories to explain the loss.

I agree, there should be no excuse to explain Federer's loss against Benneteau. Federer's form has been terrible so far in 2013, far below what it was this time last year. However, a tournament such as Rotterdam cannot be as important to Federer any longer at this stage in his career. I am sure he wants to win these smaller tournaments but how can he possibly be as geared up to play these lesser tournaments after so many years and after all of his success? I don't think it is humanly possible. There is a reason he has cut back his tennis schedule so drastically. I am sure he can't get as keyed up any longer for these smaller tournaments, they don't hold much legacy value.
 

Towser83

G.O.A.T.
the 2 most trusted people in the universe ?? :)

like the good old days when he and rafa were world no 1 and 2 :twisted::)

Here is the proof.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2011/09/Features/Federer-Mandela-Most-Respected.aspx

Fed must have decided meeting someone on his level of trustworthiness was his top priority and so bailed out of Rotterdam. He likes Delpo and knew he would take the title anyway. This is part of the reason Federer is so respected and trusted, he always does the right thing and sees the bigger picture. Mandela over Rotterdam, Delpo win over Fed win. So giving in everything.In fact I think he was robbed in that poll- he should be more trusted than Mandela. If only it had been held on TT. Mandela wouldn't have got one single vote.

For those with malfuctioning sarcasm detectors- I'm joking
 

Steve0904

Talk Tennis Guru
Here is the proof.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2011/09/Features/Federer-Mandela-Most-Respected.aspx

Fed must have decided meeting someone on his level of trustworthiness was his top priority and so bailed out of Rotterdam. He likes Delpo and knew he would take the title anyway. This is part of the reason Federer is so respected and trusted, he always does the right thing and sees the bigger picture. Mandela over Rotterdam, Delpo win over Fed win. So giving in everything.In fact I think he was robbed in that poll- he should be more trusted than Mandela. If only it had been held on TT. Mandela wouldn't have got one single vote.

Solid stuff Towser, I must say! :lol:
 

mariecon

Hall of Fame
I don't know what you mean by "opportunity." Fed can schedule a visit to SA for his Foundation whenever he wants to.

If he'd played the Rotterdam final, presumably he would have just left later on Sunday, or gone Monday, or done it some other time.

It's not like he got some sort of invitation from Mandela - his initial interviews only said that he "hopes" to meet him and his people had been in touch w/ Mandela's people.

I don't think for a moment Roger came to Rotterdam not intending to play the final. That would not only be unprofessional, but it's completely unlike him.
Benneteau's beaten him before indoors, and went up 2-0 in sets at Wimby. There's no need of conspiracy theories to explain the loss.

Do you really think Federer is going to tell you and the rest of the world what his plans are? Really? He made a commitment to play Rotterdam. Obviously during his time there the opportunity arose to possibly meet Mandela in SA so he went. Where did I say he tanked the match? Do you honestly believe every player gives it their 100% every time they step on court? It's no conspiracy theory. It's a fact. I'm sorry if this bursts your little bubble.
 

Tiebreak100

New User
Another jaunt for the Federer camp. He should maybe consider a bit of practice, instead of constant PR jollies. A good humanitarian does his charity work discreetly.
 

Emet74

Professional
Do you really think Federer is going to tell you and the rest of the world what his plans are? Really? He made a commitment to play Rotterdam. Obviously during his time there the opportunity arose to possibly meet Mandela in SA so he went. Where did I say he tanked the match? Do you honestly believe every player gives it their 100% every time they step on court? It's no conspiracy theory. It's a fact. I'm sorry if this bursts your little bubble.

Well that's not obvious to me. You are speculating that that's the case but I see no reason to think so.
 

mariecon

Hall of Fame
Well that's not obvious to me. You are speculating that that's the case but I see no reason to think so.

What's that supposed to mean? He said it himself. That they've reached out to Mandela and that he's going to South Africa and hoping to meet him. Maybe that depends on Mandela's health, whether he will actually get to meet with him. But I see no reason to believe he's lying. And I'm not speculating since I based my comment on Federer's statement.
 

Emet74

Professional
What's that supposed to mean? He said it himself. That they've reached out to Mandela and that he's going to South Africa and hoping to meet him. Maybe that depends on Mandela's health, whether he will actually get to meet with him. But I see no reason to believe he's lying. And I'm not speculating since I based my comment on Federer's statement.

Of course he's going to South Africa and hoping to meet Mandela.

What I meant is that I wouldn't call that an "opportunity" - it's a choice.
It's not like Mandela contacted him and invited to him to some event - that would be an opportunity.

No use going around in circles - I read your initial post as implying that Fed was in Rotterdam when all of a sudden some "opportunity" occured to go meet Mandela, so he was torn between playing his match properly and going on the trip.

If that's not what you meant, then fine.

Personally I think Fed travelled to Rotterdam intending to play his best and reach the final if possible. Whether or not he'd planned to visit South Africa following the tournament, I see no reason to attribute his loss to Benneteau in any way to those plans. That's it.
 

mariecon

Hall of Fame
Of course he's going to South Africa and hoping to meet Mandela.

What I meant is that I wouldn't call that an "opportunity" - it's a choice.
It's not like Mandela contacted him and invited to him to some event - that would be an opportunity.

No use going around in circles - I read your initial post as implying that Fed was in Rotterdam when all of a sudden some "opportunity" occured to go meet Mandela, so he was torn between playing his match properly and going on the trip.

If that's not what you meant, then fine.

Personally I think Fed travelled to Rotterdam intending to play his best and reach the final if possible. Whether or not he'd planned to visit South Africa following the tournament, I see no reason to attribute his loss to Benneteau in any way to those plans. That's it.

definition of opportunity: an appropriate or favorable time or occasion.

What does that have to do with having an invitation to an event? An opportunity is exactly that. Why are you dissecting this? Just to have something to argue about? He's gone to SA this weekend. If he was in the final at Rotterdam he wouldn't be there would he? Therefore an opportunity arose. He took it.
 

Emet74

Professional
definition of opportunity: an appropriate or favorable time or occasion.

What does that have to do with having an invitation to an event? An opportunity is exactly that. Why are you dissecting this? Just to have something to argue about? He's gone to SA this weekend. If he was in the final at Rotterdam he wouldn't be there would he? Therefore an opportunity arose. He took it.

If he was in the final of Rotterdam he could still have flown to South Africa after the match, or the next morning.

He told the press about the South Africa trip immediately after the QF loss; clearly it was pre-planned. You think he decided in the 30 minutes after his loss before the presser to go to South Africa???

It's possible since he lost in the QF he switched to a somewhat earlier flight, or very possible there was no change in his plans at all. He never announced what time on Sunday he was leaving; why couldn't it have been after the final?

You wrote in your original post that you thought he didn't try hard in his QF because he wanted to meet Mandela. I disagree. That's it.
 
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"Roger Federer’s reputation as a respected, admired and trusted personality is second only to that of former South African president Nelson Mandela, a new global study of more than 50,000 people in 25 countries shows.

Federer finished ahead of the likes of Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey and Bono in the 2011 Leader RepTrak, which assesses the reputations of the world’s 54 most visible public figures in politics, business, culture and sports. Derek Jeter was the second highest-rated athlete on the list at No. 16, while David Beckham finished at No. 24, one place behind LeBron James."

How incredibly arrogant.
 

JustBob

Hall of Fame
Fed was hoping to meet the most important person in South Africa, but after what happened to Oscar Pistorius, he'll have to settle for Mandela.
 
M

monfed

Guest
How come Fed's not done India? Is he afraid he'll get stabbed by some crazy ******* ala Gunter Parche? :lol:
 
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Emet74

Professional
How come Fed's not done India? Is he afraid he'll get stabbed by some crazy ******* ala Gunter Parche? :lol:

He has:

xin_101203250933049121194.jpg


sriimg20061223_7379200_0.jpg


I think it was 2006.

But his Foundation supports schools only in Africa. Started with South Africa, now has broadened to other African nations as well.
 
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