After Roger Federer fulfilled the promise he made to Zizou 5 years ago, Billie Jean King was impressed by the feat and reacted on Twitter. “Dreams come true. Congratulations Zizou! Get on with it!” Billie Jean King wrote.
“When the GOAT makes a promise, he keeps it! That’s what makes him an idol! We spend half a day with him, but his humility, his grace, his smiling personality, his ability to make everyone around him feel instantly at ease, magnify who he is and show me that you can’t be a great athlete if you don’t He is first a great person.
Thank you, Mr. Federer, for the best day of my life, for these memories, and I am forever grateful that he kept his pinky promise. HAPPY BIRTHDAY G.O.A.T!” Izyan wrote on Instagram sharing the video. Thanks to the help of his sponsor Barilla, Roger Federer was able to meet Izyan Ahmad, popularly known as Zizou, a teenage tennis player who challenged Federer to a match half a decade ago.
Federer made the decision to go to Zurich and meet the young fan because he had no competition planned. The entire meeting was recorded and posted on Barilla’s YouTube channel. “A surprising story about a fan, a question and one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
It has been 5 years since Izyan Ahmad, known to most as Zizou, challenged Federer to a match during the Open press conference from the United States. Along with Barilla, Roger Federer decides to surprise his fan by flying to Zurich and fulfilling his promise.
The time has come for Zizou to play Federer, who has 20 Grand Slam titles under his belt,” reads the caption of Barilla’s promotional video, albeit an emotional one.
Hurkacz on facing King Roger
World No. 10 Hubert Hurkacz cast his mind back to the 2021’s Wimbledon match against Roger Federer.
“That was a pretty good match I mean playing him in Centre Court at Wimbledon is something special you know, especially about playing him there you know with all the fans, the atmosphere was pretty insane so it was fun match.”
Hurkacz has won five singles titles in his career. In the recently concluded Canadian Open, the Pole lost in the final to Pablo Carreno Busta in three sets. The Laver Cup will hold its practice day on 22nd September. And the ticket counters will open for the same on 22nd August.
Further, ahead of the practice match, the collaboration will host a day of tennis in East London for children who are under Action for Children’s umbrella.
