Federer serves up directions as latest voice on Waze

Thursday, 1 June 2023 07:58

By Reuters

MARK THOMPSON/ GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/ Getty Images via AFP

After a career spent navigating the toughest opponents on the court, 20-times major winner Roger Federer will now help commuters navigate the open road, as the newest voice of driving app Waze.

The retired, polyglottic tennis star can offer directions in English, French, or German, and is the first person to record custom navigation in three different languages, the navigation app said on Wednesday.

The 41-year-old Swiss offers a variety of motivational messages to drivers, on top of basic directions.

"It's drive time - I can feel the adrenaline kicking in already," Federer says in one recording.

He begins another commute by telling drivers: "Time to ride! Trust your ability. I'm ready to coach you along the way."

Federer joins an assortment of celebrity voices on the navigation app, which Alphabet Inc GOOGL.O acquired for $1 billion in 2013, including pop stars Christina Aguilera and the Jonas Brothers.

The former number one called time on his extraordinary career in September.

"Alright, I'm pumped for this drive," Federer declares in another custom recording.

"I feel rested and ready. Like coming back from a nice vacation. You need time away from the craziness sometimes, you know?"

More from Quirky

Google Maps to rename 'Gulf of Mexico' for US users

Google Maps will change the name of 'Gulf of Mexico' to 'Gulf of America' once it is officially updated in the US Geographic Names System, Google said in an X post.
1904 Olympic medal sells for $545k at auction

A gold medal from the 1904 Olympic Games has sold for over half a million dollars at auction. The medal, from the St. Louis Olympics, was one of hundreds of items sold from various editions of the Games.
T. Rex is at center of debate over dinosaur intelligence

Surmising even the physical appearance of a dinosaur - or any extinct animal - based on its fossils is a tricky proposition, with so many uncertainties involved. Assessing a dinosaur's intelligence, considering the innumerable factors contributing to that trait, is exponentially more difficult.
Horses run amok in central London

A number of horses are running amok in London and at least one person has been injured, with the army called in to help locate the animals, authorities in the British capital said on Wednesday.
Kishida delights Washington with promise of 250 cherry trees as gift

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida drew cheers and applause from US lawmakers on Thursday when he announced a plan to donate 250 cherry trees to the US capital to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the US independence.