UAE: ATHLETICS - Tiger Woods, Roger Federer and Thierry Henry link up in Dubai

The world's number one golfer Tiger Woods, Arsenal and France striker Thierry Henry and the world's leading tennis player Roger Federer were present at the Gillette Champions' launch as the company unveiled the three top sportsmen as their newest brand ambassadors. Arsenal striker Thierry Henry said he is unsure if he will be selected for the League Cup final against Chelsea in Cardiff on February 25. "You have to ask the boss (Arsene Wenger), he picks the team," the French international told Reuters at the 'Gillette Champions' launch in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday. "The so-called kids have been doing tremendously (in this competition). Whatever is the decision of the boss, I have to accept it." The 29-year-old Henry was picked by the company because of his status as one of the world's elite athletes. Henry, a World Cup and European Championship winner with France, said pressure from the media always pushed him to seek perfection on the field. "You guys keep me on my toes," said the striker. "Whenever I have a bad game, you let me know, so I just don't want to hear a (negative) story about it. I always want to make sure I am having a good game. Tiger Woods, striving to overhaul the great Jack Nicklaus's record of 18 major championship wins, said his attentions turned toward April's U.S. Masters as soon as the New Year celebrations were over. "When the year turns, you are thinking what you need to do to peak for Augusta," the world number one told Reuters on Sunday. "Once Augusta is over you are trying to figure out how to peak for the U.S. Open (in June), then the British Open (in July) and then the U.S. PGA Championship (in August)." The 31-year-old Woods, who finished third behind Swedish winner Henrik Stenson at the Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club earlier in the day, again underlined the fact that his golfing fortunes rest on his performance in the four majors. "The whole deal is to peak four times a year, have mind and body come together for four weeks," said the 12-times major champion after being picked to represent the world's leading razor maker because of his status as an elite athlete. "If you are able to do that in our sport, you are going to have a pretty good career." Tennis world number one Roger Federer has his sights firmly set on matching Swedish great Bjorn Borg's achievement of five successive Wimbledon titles from 1976-80. "To equal Borg's five in a row would be a dream come true, but I am not there yet so I have to just hope I can keep my run going and stay injury free." Federer holds 10 grand slam titles, four consecutive Wimbledons (2003-2006), three U.S. Opens and three Australian Opens. "The last three or four seasons have been phenomenal," he said. Federer began his 2007 campaign in style, winning the first grand slam of the year in Australia last Sunday. "The next big goal is the French Open. If I can win that tournament, that would mean I would have won four consecutive majors." Federer, hot on the trail of Pete Sampras's all-time record of 14 grand slam crowns, said his success was made sweeter because of his early struggles on the ATP Tour.

ITN Source | February 5, 2007

Tags:. .toward. .seek. .represent. .pressure. .earlier