The Australian Open, tennis' first major tournament of the year, concludes this weekend, and the stars of today have aligned for what will no doubt be a thrilling finish with names like Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev and Coco Gauff all through to the semifinals. But as Djokovic continues to set new career records with each win, players, commentators and fans alike have been sharing their fondness for the former holder of all those tennis records, Roger Federer.
So what's Federer been doing since retiring from tennis in 2022? Enjoying Moët & Chandon Champagne, for starters. But if you've been missing his moves on the court, wait'll you see his moves in the château!
Moët & Chandon's new short film stars Federer along with some of his famous friends (and fellow Moët & Chandon brand ambassadors), including Canadian fashion icon and advocate Coco Rocha, British BAFTA-winning actress Lashana Lynch, Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alléno and the Champagne house's own chef de cave Benoît Gouez (fresh off his December appearance on Wine Spectator's Straight Talk podcast).
Celebrating French art de vivre, it was filmed at Champagne's Château de Saran, acquired by Moët & Chandon in 1801 and fully restored in 2019. The film follows Federer as he organizes the kind of dinner party that happens in an exquisite French château, ticking off a checklist of party-prep rituals, including dressing to impress, enlisting experts (Alléno and Gouez) for the wine and food, chilling plenty of bubbly, prepping gifts for the guests, selecting the perfect stemware and, of course, raising a full glass.
Tennis fans will nod in approval as the Swiss master executes a perfect court slide across the châteaus parquet floor while dashing from room to room, and his fast-twitch reflexes save the day when Rocha misplays a Champagne glass while teetering atop a tower of stacked stems.
"I thoroughly enjoyed playing the role of a dapper host planning a convivial French dinner party with the invaluable assistance of my friends," said Federer in a press release. "This joint effort was like real life, and it turned out perfectly because of its authentic, shared moments."
"My favorite moments while filming were contemplating with the rest of the cast how spontaneous it has been for all of us to connect, play and embody the values that make Moët & Chandon the generous and convivial maison it is since 1743," Gouez told Wine Spectator. "As the cellar master, it gives me pure joy to see how the fruit of our work becomes a means of connection and celebration for people. The set was just an example of how a bottle of Moët Impérial is able to elevate moments with just a cork pop."
While Federer has been enjoying the bubbles of success as a Moët & Chandon ambassador since 2012, the tennis stars of today have plenty to celebrate with in Melbourne this weekend, too. The Australian Open's official partners include Piper-Heidseick Champagne and Australian wine icon Penfolds. Serves up!
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