Roger Federer ditches racquet for SLS AMG Roadster

It's not always the lucky automotive journalists that get first crack at the world's newest automobiles. Sometimes an automaker will hand over the keys to someone more... special. Mercedes-Benz has done just that, giving tennis superstar Roger Federer some seat time in the 2012 SLS AMG Roadster.

Federer is very impressed with the car, and we're very impressed with the glass-smooth desert road he found to push the Merc's pedal down to the carpet. The new droptop is a looker that also makes truly glorious noises thanks to its 563-horsepower 6.3-liter V8. We suggest you see and hear for yourself in the video posted after the jump.

We bet Federer's just happy he's not facing Rafael Nadal in a race...