A series of former grand slam champions will grace their presence on the Rod Laver Arena next week at a special fundraiser for victims of the Australian Bushfires.
The Rally for Relief exhibition evening will take place on January 15th in the lead up to the Australian Open. Among those set to take part are Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Nick Kyrgios. Kyrgios was the player who urged Tennis Australia to take action to support those affected on social media and has vowed to donate $200 for every ace he hit during the Australian summer to the cause. A gesture that has since been followed by other players.
The upcoming event will be the first time Federer will in action on Australian soil this year. Unlike his rivals on the tour, the Swiss world No.2 has skipped the ATP Cup. Opting to instead spend more time resting. Federer has had a packed off-season after playing various exhibition matches across South America and China.
Stars from the world of women’s tennis are also set to feature. Serena Williams, Caroline Wozniacki and Naomi Osaka have all been confirmed for the event. Williams and Wozniacki are currently playing in Auckland. Meanwhile, Osaka has started her season in Brisbane.
“For a period of about two-and-a-half hours we’re going to be showcasing the game, but also coming together as a community to play our part in the relief effort,” said Tennis Australia chief Craig Tiley.
So excited to announce the world's best players will be at AO Rally for Relief.
Grab your tickets to see @rogerfederer, @RafaelNadal, @serenawilliams, @naomiosaka, @CaroWozniacki, @NickKyrgios, @StefTsitsipas and more!#Aces4BushfireRelief https://t.co/ioWWblwN3E pic.twitter.com/TsS2sQXIbb
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 8, 2020
The ongoing crisis in the country has triggered an outpouring of support from the world of tennis. Besides players such as Simona Halep and Alex de Minaur following Kyrgios’ aces pledge, both Djokovic and Maria Sharapova have donated $25,000 each.
Earlier this week, organizers of the Australian Open admitted there was a chance that matches could potentially be delayed or moved indoors due to the poor air quality caused by the fires. In Melbourne the air quality rating was as high as 210, which is classed as ‘very unhealthy.’ Djokovic had previously expressed his concerns about the impact the haze could have on the grand slam tournament.
“In the unlikely case of extreme smoke conditions, the roofs will be closed on the 3 stadium courts and play will continue in their air-conditioned, air-filtered environment,” the official Australian Open Twitter account said.
“If smoke infiltrates the 3 stadium courts the air conditioning system will filter it out.”
26 people have been killed and almost 2000 homes have been destroyed since the outbreak of the fires back in September.
