'I will certainly never forget my experience with Roger Federer', says young ace

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In April last year, during the first quarantine period made necessary by the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, Vittoria Oliveri and Carola Pessina - 13 and 11 years old respectively - had met on the roof of two different buildings in Finale Ligure, where they had started dribbling. The video of the scene soon traveled around the world, becoming a symbol of resistance against the virus and its consequent closures. A few months later, in the summer of 2020, the two girls also received a surprise visit from a very special guest: the former world number one Roger Federer, who together with the young tennis players shot a promotional spot for the well-known Italian brand Barilla, its sponsor. "During the quarantine we decided to try to dribble from roof to roof," Vittoria explained at the time. "However, we did not believe it would go viral", the words of her friend of hers. Now, Vittoria and Carola have been named among the finalists of the important Laureus Sporting Moment of the Year, which celebrates the most exciting moment of the season. The award, officially established in 2017, has seen the under-12 team of FC Barcelona triumph in the past for consoling the members of the opposing team after a scorching defeat, the Brazilian team Chapecoense for returning to competition after a tragic plane crash and finally the Chinese Xia Boyu, mountaineer without both legs for having managed to reach the top of Mount Everest. Voting will remain open until May 6, when the winner will be announced online from Seville, Spain. Among the tennis players nominated are Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem, Iga Swiatek and Naomi Osaka. The Spaniard was defeated in the quarter-finals of the Masters 1000 in Monte Carlo at the hands of the young Andrey Rublev, winner with a score of 6-2 4-6 6-2. The Polish Swiatek won the last edition of Roland Garros in Paris, beating the American Sofia Kenin in the final. Swiss teen Dominic Stricker recently claimed that Roger Federer is the perfect role model both on and off the court. The 18-year-old also showered praise on Federer's approach to his training regimen and life in general.

Stricker opens up on Roger Federer

"You can learn a lot from Roger Federer," Dominic Stricker said. "He is the perfect role model. It's not always about the game itself. You can also see how he behaves before and after training or between rallies." Dominic Stricker went on to reiterate that his Dubai stint with Roger Federer was an invaluable experience. The 18-year-old managed to share notes with his compatriot during their practice sessions, and at one point Federer even invited him for a desert trip. "That was a huge experience," Stricker said. "Being able to spend three weeks training with Roger Federer was incredible and something I will certainly never forget. Most of the time we just trained together and talked a little before or after. We never went out to eat together, but once we went on a trip into the desert together."

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3gqV8mz

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