Roger Federer pays two special fans a surprise visit for a game of rooftop tennis in a new campaign for Barilla, created by We Are Social Milan.
The fans in question are two young Italian girls who, during Italy’s coronavirus lockdown earlier this year, created a tennis court between two rooftops in their hometown of Finale Ligure. The pair, Vittoria Oliveri and Carola Pessina, became a global sensation when a video of them playing a 12-shot rally between two rooftops went viral.
Struck by the girls’ passion for the game, Barilla and Federer, the brand’s ambassador and the girls’ tennis hero, decided to surprise them both on the same rooftop after lockdown was lifted.
In this resulting film, The Rooftop Match with Roger Federer, we see the two girls on the rooftop taking part in what they think is a media interview about the global attention their lockdown tennis attracted and their love of Federer. To their total surprise and delight, Federer appears and challenges them to play a match with him. Afterwards, they all sit down to enjoy some well-earned pasta.
Roger Federer, commented: “Personally, for me, it was a special moment in my career as a tennis player, to surprise fans like I have been able to do with Carola and Vittoria.”
Directed by Beppe Tufarulo of BRW Filmland, the four-minute film supports the Barilla brand message “Pasta brings people together” as we see Roger, Vittoria and Carola gathered around the table, enjoying a plate of penne in the best Italian tradition. The campaign launched globally on YouTube and the brand’s social media channels.
