Serena and Venus Williams will take part in an exhibition match next month to raise money for the Kaikoura earthquake appeal in New Zealand.
The sisters, who have won 14 grand slam doubles titles together, will play a charity match against New Zealand rugby players Julian and Ardie Savea. The encounter will occur at the ASB Tennis Centre in Auckland, where both Serena and Venus are set to start their 2017 season.
Karl Budge, who is the tournament director of the ASB Classic, confirmed that event will take place on New Year’s day with tickets costing costing NZ$30. All the money raised will go towards the rebuilding of the earthquake-stricken Kaikoura.
“It’s not a bad little sibling match-up,” Budge told TVNZ. “I’m not sure what the girls’ rugby skills are like or the boys’ tennis skills.
“There will probably be a bit of a dance-off between them at some point, too.
“I think it will be fun, it’s one of those uniquely Kiwi things.”
Earlier this year on November 14th, a 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck New Zealand, killing two people. The town of Kaikoura was heavily affected with key transport routes being destroyed. Officials have to clear over 200,000 tonnes of debris from the State Highway 1 south of Kaikoura before it is fully operational. The cost of rebuilding the highway is likely to reach a mark of $2 billion.
Other participants at the exhibition include former world No.39 Marina Erakovic and New Zealand tennis champion Jade Lewis.
Serena and Venus are scheduled to be the top two seeds at the ASB Classic, which will start on January 2nd. Venus is a former champion at the event after winning the title in 2015. Meanwhile, Serena will be making her debut in what will be her first competitive tournament since the US Open last September.
