WALL STREET JOURNAL
Tennis matches for ROGER FEDERER now "feel like rowdy pilgrimages, full of obsessives and bucket-listers eager to see him before he’s gone," according to a cover piece by Jason Gay of WALL STREET JOURNAL MAGAZINE. There is "hardly a place left on earth without Federer fans, or Fedheads, as they’re nicknamed." He is the "crowd favorite at every tournament." Federer's agent TONY GODSICK said, “He really is a living legend." Godsick noted Federer’s recent charity Match for Africa with BILL GATES in San Jose "sold 17,000 tickets with no advertising.” In September, Godsick and Federer will host the second edition of the Laver Cup at United Center after last year's event in Prague was an "immediate smash." When Federer retires, it will "likely mean more time" for his eponymous foundation, which has "raised millions for schools and education services in Africa and Switzerland." Federer said that he is "curious about the fashion business, perhaps expanding beyond his RF Nike athletic-wear line." Vogue Editor-in-Chief ANNA WINTOUR said Federer is a "smart businessman." Wintour: “Whatever he does in fashion, he’ll think about it carefully. He knows a lot of us in that world; he’ll take advice, and he’ll surround himself with the right people. No one would be in his box cheering him on more than I would.” On the endorsement front, it is "easy to see Federer, who also has deals with enviable status brands like Rolex and Mercedes-Benz, having a lengthy post-sports career as a pitchman, like ARNOLD PALMER or MICHAEL JORDAN." Godsick said, "He’s got long-term agreements with most of his brands." Federer said he wants to be remembered as "good for the game." Federer added he wants to know that fans who paid to see him "got their money’s worth” (WALL STREET JOURNAL MAGAZINE, June/July '18 issue).
