Summary Federer has won 17 Grand Slam tennis titles.
ROTTERDAM (AFP) - Roger Federer will support the campaign to have squash included in the 2020 Olympics, after meeting the sport s longtime number one Nicol David at the Rotterdam World Tennis tournament.
Federer, winner of 17 Grand Slam tennis titles, made his endorsement only a few days after the International Olympic Committee said it would remove wrestling from the Games, a decision which has met with a storm of controversy.
"I started with a wooden racquet in squash," said Federer, after losing to France s Julien Benneteau in the Rotterdam quarter-finals.
"It s a wonderful sport. I think squash deserves to be in the Olympics, they run a great tour with great personalities. I d be very happy for them personally. I used to play every Sunday with my dad."
Six-time world champion David, a Malaysian based in Amsterdam for part of the season, is an enthusiastic supporter of her sport making the Games shortlist.
"Why do I think squash deserves its chance? It s played in every corner of the globe," she said.
"It s tremendous to have Roger Federer supporting our campaign. It s a dream come true for squash. He loves the game and was brought up playing squash. He wants to see another racquet sport be part of the Olympics.
"He s giving his own time to support the bid. Him making this effort is such a bonus for the squash big picture. This could have a real impact."
David said the campaign will make a presentation to the IOC.
"We still have a lot of work to keep momentum going. Having Roger Federer supporting it is a huge plus for us. Squash desrves a chance to be part of the Games."
Federer also announced that he will fly to South Africa on Sunday on a brief mission for his charity foundation which works with under-privileged children in the Johannesburg area.
He said that he also hopes to be able to meet the country s venerated political icon Nelson Mandela.
"It will only be for a few days but I want to visit one of the projects of the foundation," said Federer, whose mother is South African.
"I m looking forward to it since I haven t been to South Africa in some time. I m really hoping to be able to meet Nelson Mandela, we have been reaching out to him. It would be amazing and a dream come true."
The trip slots in nicely with Federer s next tournament entry at his training base of Dubai starting a week from Monday, where -- like in Rotterdam -- he will be defending champion.
