“I am very used to drive around in trams,” admitted Federer, who is looking to capture his 63rd tour-level title this week. “I used to travel to practice back in Basel on the tram in winter and with the bike in summer time. It does not feel too unusual to me.
Federer, who lifted the 2008 title with victory over Russian Nikolay Davydenko in the final, started the journey on a 53-year-old tram at the Museu do Museu do Eléctrico in Largo do Calvário (Alcântara).
It went through Rua da Junqueira, the house of the president Cavaco Silva at Palácio de Belém, the factory of Pasteis de Belem and the Monasterio dos Jeronimos, where a second group of children from Colégio St. Julians de Carcavelos jumped on the tram.
The last stop was at Rotunda de Alges, where the group got on a bus for the Estadio Nacional, venue of the ATP World Tour 250 clay-court tennis tournament.
“I like coming to Portugal,” the Swiss superstar said. “That is why I am here again. Two years ago, I had a wonderful experience, not just because I won the tournament, but the people were very friendly, very welcoming and very happy to see me.
“Of course the city of Lisbon and Estoril is very nice and so we decided if the schedule allowed we would like to come back. This year was the right year and it is going to be another good tournament for me.”
Federer will contest his first match at the Estoril Open on Wednesday, against either qualifier Marc Lopez or Bjorn Phau of Germany. It will be broadcast live in 3D by MEO, the cable channel from Portugal Telecom, for the first time at a national event.
Date: 04.05.2010, Source: Estoril
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