OWNER’S PROFILE “
OWNER’S PROFILE “ NetJets allowed me to actually keep my travel supersimple and easy: getting from A to B as quickly as possible, avoiding transit, and saving enormous time director] – I think the players really love it. The fans enjoy it in Switzerland, it’s not so important to be an ambassador. a lot and I think it’s also something that for a long, long time But I was able to sign on with the likes of Gillette and other to come is that get-together between the past, present, and huge global brands and to start building a great portfolio future – I think that’s great. of partners and, with Tony, learned how to navigate through everything, which has been really valuable. SPEAKING OF THE FUTURE, YOU’RE NOW LOOKING AT A LIFE BEYOND COMPETITIVE TENNIS. TELL US WHAT AND SO YOU’RE INVOLVED AND COLLABORATING YOUR PARTNERSHIPS MEAN TO YOU? WITH THE SWISS SHOE AND APPAREL COMPANY For the people who know me, I always try to be the best ON AND THE LIKES OF UNIQLO. HOW IMPORTANT partner – a creative partner who brings with them a good ARE THESE COLLABORATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS, team and then services those with whom we work. I mean, I INCLUDING WITH NETJETS? take this role very seriously. But, of course, it also needs to They’re hugely important. Obviously, entering the On be fun, a “win-win” for both sides, and I think I was one of relationship has been something quite different. Being able the fortunate athletes who was willing to wait sometimes to invest and then following them through the IPO and seeing for a good sponsor to come along instead of just taking the how the whole business is run. And then also embarking on first one. And I think that probably helped me a lot in the this relationship with Uniqlo has been quite the mindbender, beginning. So, when Tony Godsick came and joined the team, but in a very positive way. I love working together with them it was a white canvas. I remember back in 2004, I was world because they believe in me in an incredible way. I mean John No 1 and I was playing the US Open and people kept asking C Jay [the President of Global Creative for Fast Retailing, me, “Why don’t you have more global deals, more sponsors?”, parent of Uniqlo] is a super-creative man. He said, “Roger is because that’s a big deal here in the States – who you going to retire from tennis at one point, but he’s not gonna surround yourself with is who you are. Whereas in Europe, retire from life.” So, the best is yet to come. And to hear that, as an athlete who is sort of on the back nine of his career, is great – because we know athletes usually have a lifeline of three years of deals, maybe five years, if they’re lucky. But I’m fortunate in that we have 10-year deals, 15-year deals with some of my partners. Like with NetJets, as an example – and these long partnerships mean that we get to know and become acquainted with the in-house teams and then be friends with them – so much so that, in the end, it almost doesn’t feel like work but it’s just enormous fun to be able to create something super-special. SPEAKING OF NETJETS, WHAT CONTRIBUTION DID THE PARTNERSHIP MAKE TO YOUR CAREER? Well, I’ve been with them for maybe 15 years, maybe longer. And, if you look back and ask why did everybody retire, on average, between the ages of 28 and 32 – Sampras, aged 32; Edberg, aged 30; Borg, aged 26 – I believe it had a lot to with travel and nutrition. Also, the prize money wasn’t so high yet, STAR OF THE SHOW Federer at the NetJets Owners’ event in New York; facing page: in conversation on stage at the Rainbow Room 42 NetJets
FRED MARCUS STUDIO (2) but those three things to me in many ways dictated why you couldn’t do it alone. NetJets allowed me to actually keep my travel super-simple and easy: Getting from A to B as quickly as possible, avoiding transit, and saving enormous time, which allowed me to return, to be more rested, which in turn helped me play better, have a better career, and, indeed, extend my career – call it a competitive advantage. So, for me, NetJets has just been wonderful, especially having had children on the back end, the second part of my career – NetJets just made life so much easier by being able to take them along, avoiding the trials and tribulations of brutal transits, losing luggage, you name it. So, I think it has been wonderful and when I step onboard now, it still feels like a privilege. It’s something I don’t take for granted but it feels familiar, like an extended family: I know a lot of the pilots by now, a lot of the stewardesses, you know – we’ve seen each other before. BACK TO YOUR COLLABORATIONS: YOU ALSO HAVE A NEWLY SIGNED DEAL WITH OLIVER PEOPLES. Honestly, it’s a project that I’m really excited about – something that I’ve been thinking about for a great many years: the idea of building up a sunglasses brand. I always thought Oliver Peoples would be the one I would love to partner with the most. And this idea really started to gain traction once I retired – I finally had the time to put into the project, because I don’t like to do things half-heartedly. NetJets 43
