22/11/2007
NEWS STORY
A1 Team Switzerland drivers Neel Jani and Rahel Frey are used to attention from fans, so it was a novel occasion as the roles were reversed in Malaysia on Wednesday, when they met Switzerland's top sports star Roger Federer on the eve of the Malaysian Independence Tennis Festival.
Current world number one Federer, 26, is in Malaysia to play 14-time Grand Slam champion Pete Sampras in a series of exhibition games, and both Jani and Frey were on hand to welcome them both to the official cocktail reception, held at the exclusive JW Marriott hotel in Bukit Bintang upon invitation from Tan Sri Francis Yeoh managing Director of YTL Corporation BHD listed on Bursa Malaysia.
Both of Switzerland's A1 Grand Prix drivers had the chance to be on stage with the two tennis legends, who arrived direct from Seoul after
Federer claimed his fourth Masters Cup title (only Ilie Nastase, Ivan Lendl and Sampras himself had won the season-ending tournament four
times or more). A1 Switzerland tantalizingly invited Federer not only to watch this weekend's A1GP round in Sepang, but also offered the
five-time Wimbledon champion the opportunity to test the 550hp Lola chassis that the team currently campaign.
Sadly, Federer had to decline the opportunity, as prior commitments prevent him from attending the weekend. However, the A1 Switzerland drivers enjoyed the opportunity to meet and greet with one of their country's sporting heroes. "I played fanclub tonight and waited to meet Federer as he was late arriving," said a delighted Neel Jani afterwards. "But I was not disappointed. Federer looks so cool and determined, I have always admired him and watched him play as often as possible on TV, and my dream was to meet him."
Neel and Rahel were unable to take up an invitation to see their compatriot in action, but when asked why they could not be courtside at the
Shah Alam exhibition game against Sampras, Jani certainly had a good excuse. "We won't be there because we will be guests of His Excellency the Swiss Ambassador in Kuala Lumpur, (but) I was so impressed tonight, what a champion!"