Roger Federer recognizes synergy can spark success.
Federer partnered buddy Stan Wawrinka to win the 2008 Olympic doubles gold medal. The pair reprised their partnership leading Switzerland to its first Davis Cup championship with a triumph over host France in the 2014 final.
More: Federer, Serena Rock Met Gala
What exactly does it feel like for a hacker to share the court with the Maestro?
In this case, the hacker was Microsoft co-founder billionaire Bill Gates and the court was a sold-out Key Arena in Seattle on Saturday night.
Federer and Gates took on John Isner and Pearl Jam guitarist and hometown hero Mike McCready in a doubles exhibition that launched the Match for Africa 4 benefiting the Roger Federer Foundation.
Gates says playing alongside Federer "was a dream come true" though the pressure provoked one primary aim: "I just had to make sure I didn't screw it up," Gates wrote in a GatesNotes blog post about the experience.
An avid recreational player, Gates gained a greater appreciation for Federer's artistry playing right next to him.
"During the match, I tried to just stay focused on what I was doing," Gates said. "Keep your arm up on your serve. I settled down after I got my first one in. It definitely helped that Roger and John put on a great show. They kept the ball in play, and sometimes it seemed like their volleys would last forever.
"I had to resist the temptation to just sit back and watch them work. I knew they were phenomenal athletes from watching them on TV and from the stands, but up close I got a new understanding of their grace and power."
The 18-time Grand Slam champion has spent some time celebrating partners.
The Match for Africa 4 raised more than $2 million for the Roger Federer foundation and perhaps the prospect of a future projects between the doubles partners who share philanthropic pursuits through their foundations.
"Of course I'm following it closely what he's trying to do in the world obviously he's got the biggest foundation in the world, I assume, and he's so inspiring for other people to do the same," Federer told Geek Wire after the exhibition. "For me, what I can take away from this is I actually know Bill Gates now, which was not the case until Indian Wells this year.
"For me to maybe call upon Bill and ask him for advice or our two foundations knowing each other now. It's a different world now maybe for me. He put me together with some very interesting people. That's what he does so well because he does speak with world leaders and so forth."
At the Met Gala in New York City, Federer found his dream doubles partner, Patriots QB Tom Brady.
Of course, Roger remains most devoted to life partner.
Photo credit: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation