Tennis great Roger Federer said he hoped to find time for a beer with Tiger Woods while both are in Shanghai this weekend.
Federer is playing in the season-ending Masters Cup while Woods is here for Asia’s richest golf event, the $5-million HSBC Champions tournament.
”Maybe, if we have a chance, we may go out for a beer,” Federer said.
The two dominant sportsmen in their field are known to enjoy a healthy mutual respect and Woods praised Federer as a ”marvel” here this week.
”He’s a marvel to watch. He just makes it look so easy. Maybe one day I’ll have a hit at him, and maybe he’s never seen anything coming at him that slow,” Woods said.
The pair first met and compared notes during the US Open in New York in September, when Woods watched Federer beat Andy Roddick in the final.
”I asked him how it was for him. It’s funny, because so many things are similar. He knew exactly how I felt out there on the court,” Federer said then.
”That is something I have never felt before. A guy who knows how it feels to be invincible at times. In the fourth set I guess it is like the final round for him.”
They also share a friendly rivalry over who has won the most Majors or Grand Slams. Woods leads with 12 titles to Federer’s nine.
”He says I am three behind. He’s got 12. I wish. Who knows? I wouldn’t be surprised if I get a text message next time when he wins, yeah. I wouldn’t be surprised at all,” said the Swiss. – Sapa-AFP