Roger Federer's endorsement deals keep him busy off the court.GETTY IMAGES
Roger Federer's global appeal "makes him a box office dream" for tournament organizers, but it can mean that "he is as busy off the court as he is on it in the initial stages of an event," according to Courtney Walsh of THE AUSTRALIAN. Hopman Cup organizers and the West Australian government "forked out a significant amount to lure the 20-time grand slam winner" to Perth for the third straight year. The exact figure "has never been revealed" but it is understood "there are seven figures." The "beauty" of the six-time Australian Open champion, according to those who deal with appearance and promotional fees, is that Federer "goes above and beyond what is usually required of the sport’s stars." As part of his obligations on a recent visit, the world No. 3 traveled about two hours north of Perth to The Pinnacles, a limestone formation in the Nambung National Park, "for a promotional photo shoot." A week after Federer posed for the snap, the government "claimed it had been seen by 581 million people" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 12/28).
